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American  Dramatists  Series 


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THE  JUDGE 


American  Dramatists  Series 

THE  JUDGE 

A  Play  in  Four  Acts 

LOUIS  JAMES  BLOCK 


BOSTON:    THE  GO RH AM  PRESS 

THE     COPP     CLARK     CO.,     LIMITED,     TORONTO 


Copyright,  1915,  by  Louis  James  Block 


All  Rights  Reserved 


THH  GORHAM  PRESS,  BOSTON,  U.  S.  A. 


To 
KARL  EMIL  FRANZOS 

The  illustrious  Austrian  Novelist, 

immortal  now  in  life  as  in  memory, 

this  book  is  inscribed  with  profound 

regard  and  reverence 


37221.0 


THE  JUDGE 


PERSONS  OF  THE  DRAMA 

Baron   Von  Sendlingen,   The  Judge. 
Minister  of  Justice. 

George  Berger,  Von  Sendlingen  s  Friend. 
Von  Werner,  A  Judge. 
Dernegg,  Public  Prosecutor. 
Count  Henry  Riesner. 
John  Novyrok,  A  Workman. 
Dr.  Rohn. 

Franz,  An  Old  Servant. 
Victorine  Lippert. 

Countess  Riesner,  Mother  of   Count  Henry. 
Brigitta,    Von   Sendlingen  s   Housekeeper. 
Marianna  Brandes,  Companion  of  the  Countess. 
Workmen.  Guards. 

SCENE. — A   manufacturing   Town   in  Northeast 
ern  Austria.      Time,  November,    1852,   to  March, 


THE   JUDGE 


ACT  I 

SCENE. — The  library  of  Von  Sendlingen.  Bri~ 
gitta  and  Franz. 

Franz 

So — that  business  is  over.  The  noise  of  the  work 
ing  men  will  now  come  to  a  stop.  There  is  no  one 
in  whom  they  believe  as  in  the  Baron,  and  he  will 
have  some  word  for  them  of  gladness  and  good 
cheer. 

Brigitta 

I  am  afraid  that  even  he  will  have  much  difficulty 
in  pacifying  the  men,  so  enraged  are  they,  and  so 
filled  with  a  sense  of  wrong  at  the  hardships  heaped 
upon  them.  Besides  there  is  that  other  terrible  busi 
ness  awaiting  him. 

Franz 
You  mean  Victorine  Lippert? 

Brigitta 

Yes.  It  is  the  sort  of  thing  he  dislikes  to  deal 
with. 

Franz 

Poor  child — so  young — and  such  a  fate!  Now 
adays  everything  goes  wrong,  the  children  are  all 
brought  up  wrong,  and  we  must  hear  of  these 
dreadful  things!  The  whole  world  is  upside  down, 
and  the  workingman  is  ready  to  declare  himself 
emperor.  Ah!  A  knock! 

(Goes   out  and  returns  with  Berger.) 

7 


3  THE  JUDGE 

Berger 

Good  morning,  Brigitta.  Is  it  not  time  that  your 
master  has  arrived?  The  train  is  somewhat  late,  I 
believe. 

Brigitta 

Perhaps  he  has  been  detained  on  the  way.  He 
has  many  little  confidences  with  people  all  over  the 
town  and  one  of  them  may  be  keeping  him. 

Berger 

Doubtless  that  is  the  case.  I  will  just  sit  down 
and  remain  until  he  comes. 

Brigitta 

You  will   excuse  me,   Mr.   Berger;   I   have   the 
usual  morning  duties  to  look  after.      (Passes  out.) 
Berger 

(As  if  to  himself.)  I  must  see  him  about  that 
unhappy  woman,  who  has  aroused  every  feeling  of 
pity  in  me. 

Franz 

Is  it  the  Lippert  woman  that  you  are  speaking 
of,  sir? 

Berger 

Yes — poor  child.  I  wish  that  it  were  anyone  else 
than  Von  Werner  who  is  to  preside  at  the  examina 
tion.  Justice  has  never  worn  a  stranger  face  than 
in  him.  He  firmly  believes  that  the  right  can  be 
put  down  on  paper  in  words  and  sentences,  and 
indeed  that  it  has  already  been  done  beyond  change 
or  cavil.  A  law,  you  know,  dear  Franz,  is  a  law, 
though  a  very  foolish  set  of  men  very  foolishly  may 
have  made  it,  and  a  folly  once  securely  set  forth  in 
black  and  white  can  never,  never,  be  altered  for  the 
better. 


ACT  I  9 

Franz 

You  are  very  good,  Mr.  Berger,  to  talk  in  this 
way  to  an  ignorant  man  like  me,  but  I  haven't, 
thank  God,  lived  so  long  under  the  shadow 
of  justice  without  learning  something.  Besides 
we  poor  folks  are  often  ground  down  by 
hard  times  and  griefs,  and  we  are  glad  to  see  any 
way  out  of  troubles  and  learn  to  forgive  where  men 
who  have  never  felt  the  shoe  pinch  think  it  is  best 
to  be  strict — strict — very  strict. 

Berger 

It?s  not  always  an  easy  thing  to  decide.  Some 
times  it  seems  that  justice  were  better  served  by 
holding  the  reins  less  tight.  How  long  it  is  since 
Von  Sendlingen  has  been  away!  Ah,  good  friend, 
I  grudge  every  hour  that  he  is  not  here,  and  we  need 
him  all  the  time — that  pedant,  Von  Werner — you 
are  not  listening  to  what  I  am  saying,  Franz? 

Franz 

I  forget  a  good  deal.  I  am  getting  along  in 
years,  and  my  memory  is  not  what  it  was  when  you, 
a  young  man  just  beginning  your  work  as  a  lawyer, 
found  me  already  an  old  servant  in  this  house. 
That  knocker  has  been  going  all  the  morning! 
(Passes  out  and  then  returns  with  Von  Werner  and 
Dernegg.  The  former  places  a  package  of  docu 
ments  on  the  table.  Franz  leaves  the  room.  The 
gentlemen  exchange  greetings.  Von  Werner  is 
dressed  with  extreme  precision  and  is  pompous  and 
affected  in  his  manners.) 

Berger 

We  shall  be  the  first  to  welcome  the  Judge  on  his 
return,  excepting  those  who  appear  to  have  claimed 


io  THE  JUDGE 

his  thoughts  before  ourselves. 

Von   Werner 

You  have  not  been  informed  of  the  happy  cir 
cumstances  which  import  so  much  both  to  Baron 
Von  Sendlingen  and  myself?  I  shall  receive  my 
due  recognition.  I  have  been  second  altogether  too 
long.  I  now  appear  in  my  true  light.  I  am  the 
Master  here. 

Berger 

You  have,  indeed,  the  advantage  of  me. 

Von   Werner 

In  consequence  of  the  fortunate  termination  of 
the  labor  difficulties  brought  about  by  the  exertions 
of  myself  with  some  assistance  from  our  friend, 
and  the  important  services  which  I  have  rendered 
the  ministry  in  the  matter  of  needed  law  reforms, 
Von  Sendlingen  receives  preferment  which  I  do  not 
grudge  him.  He  will  take  a  position  as  a  Superior 
Judge,  and  the  minister  gives  me  the  place  which 
has  long  been  mine  as  his  successor.  The  news 
has  not  yet  been  made  public,  the  more's  the  pity, 
but  it  will  be  at  once  on  the  return  of  the  Baron. 
(He  gives  a  low  and  peculiar  chuckle,  rises  and 
rubs  his  hands  together  and  walks  haughtily  up  and 
down  the  room.) 

Dernegg 

My  congratulations  you  have  already  received ; 
they  are  tempered  only  by  my  sense  of  loss  in  the 
departure  of  Von  Sendlingen,  but  I  hope  you  found 
them  profound  enough  for  your  acceptance. 
Berger 

(Stiffly,  with  ill-concealed  scorn.)  The  interests 
of  our  city  have  always  been  an  affair  of  serious 


ACT  I  it 

consideration  with  the  ministry  of  justice,  and  they 
have  recognized  the  fact  that  rigorous  uprightness 
and  wide  acquaintance  with  our  difficult  situation 
were  imperatively  required.  You  are  a  learned, 
very  learned  man. 

Von   Werner 

I  shall  hardly  walk  in  the  footsteps  of  my  prede 
cessor.  I  see  above  and  beyond  him.  I  shall  make 
the  necessary  changes  called  for  by  a  higher  in 
telligence.  With  the  proletariat  that  seethes  in 
this  manufacturing  town  so  viciously,  and  some 
times  shows  its  teeth  snarlingly  at  constituted  au 
thority,  I  shall  be  firm,  startlingly  firm.  What  wt(. 
need  nowadays  is  reason,  pure,  unflinching  reason, 
which  I  know  I  possess.  (Chuckles  and  rubs  his 
hands  as  above,  takes  a  few  strides,  then  looks  down 
on  the  gentle ?nen  with  a  broad  and  blatant  smile.) 
Berger 

The  weak  and  suffering  will  no  doubt  find  at 
your  hands  that  consideration  which  they  so  shame 
fully  crave. 

Dernegg 

Shamefully?     Quite  right.      (Laughs  lightly.) 
Von   Werner 

Right,  indeed.  (Stares  and  smiles.)  Shame 
fully  is  just  the  word. 

(They  turn  at  a  noise  behind  them  and  see  Franz 
shaking  hands  with   Von  Sendlingen,  who   is  quite 
overjoyed  to  be  at  home  again.) 
Franz 

There  you  are!  How  it  gladdens  my  old  heart! 
What  a  dull  time  we  have  had  without  you !  Every 
day  we  have  looked  over  as  many  papers  as  we 


12  THE  JUDGE 

could  get,  to  see  if  your  name  was  in  any  one  of 
them  and  to  find  out  what  you  were  doing!  And 
when  your  letters  came,  how  we  read  them  over 
and  over,  and  you  were  so  good  as  to  write  us  often. 
We  have  saved  them  up !  Now  I  must  go  and  tell 
Brigitta! 

Von   Sendlingen 

Not  just  yet,  my  dear  Franz.  In  a  little  while. 
Let  me  see  my  good  friends  here  first.  So-so! 
(Shakes  with  both  hands  and  Franz  goes  out.} 
Berger, — George, — I  have  a  good  deal  to  tell  you. 
It  is  a  pleasure  to  see  you,  Mr.  Dernegg,  and  my 
honorable  intelligent  successor.  I  am  afraid,  how 
ever,  that  I  am  hardly  ready  to  go.  I  have  become 
wedded  to  my  labors  here  and  I  may  ask  the  govern 
ment  to  exchange  the  appointment  and  let  you  take 
the  higher  one.  ( Von  Werner  smiles  and  chuckles 
and  rubs  his  hands.)  But  be  seated.  Are  there 
any  special  matters  you  wish  to  bring  to  me  requir 
ing  consideration? 

(He  removes  his  overcoat  and  they  all  gather 
around  the  table.) 

Von   Werner 

All  reports  are  ready  for  your  inspection.  The 
reading  should  begin  at  once.  We  have  brought 
them  for  that  purpose.  I  never  delay.  I  am  prompt 
to  the  minute.  We  must  always  work.  (He  points 
to  the  documents  on  the  table;  Von  Sendlingen 
takes  them  up  and  begins  looking  at  them.) 
Berger 

(With  some  asperity.)  It  is  not  so  immediate. 
I  pray  you  pardon  me,  but  let  us  have  a  few 
minutes'  conversation.  It  has  been  many  weeks  since 


ACT  I  13 

we  have  had  the  privilege  of  hearing  the  Baron's 
voice. 

Von   Werner 

There  is  one  case  that  calls  for  instant  action, 
which  I  would  give  it.  (Pauses  and  arranges  his 
hair.)  The  preliminary  hearing  is  set  for  the  day 
after  tomorrow,  and  I,  as  usual,  intended  to  take 
upon  myself  the  presiding  over  it.  You  no  doubt 
will,  as  usual,  agree  with  me. 

Dernegg 

You  refer  to  that  fearful  case  of  the  young  wo 
man  murdering  her  newborn  child.  Unhappy,  half- 
crazed  creature! 

Von  Werner 

As  no  one  cared  to  defend  her,  I  gave  that  duty 
to  Mr.  Berger.  You  will  approve  of  him.  (With 
condescension.) 

Von   Sendlingen 

Yes,  indeed.  The  murder  of  her  own  child,  you 
say  ?  The  circumstances  leading  to  such  an  act  must 
be  terrible,  indeed. 

Von   Werner 

The  record  is  here,  Baron,  ready  as  usual.  (Wide 
smile.  Von  Sendlingen  takes  the  paper  handed  to 
him,  holds  it  unopened  and  seems  to  be  losing  him 
self  in  thought.) 

Von   Werner 

(Continues.)  The  crime  has  grown  singularly 
frequent  of  late  owing  to  the  laxity  of  Judges. 
(Bridles  and  plays  with  cravat.)  One  surely  must 
expect  such  fearful  exemplifications  of  the  madness 
which  has  come  upon  mankind,  the  lower  mankind, 
of  course.  The  revolutionary  sentiment  spread 


H  THE  JUDGE 

broadcast  through  books,  written  by  persons  with 
out  insight  and  therefore  wholly  destitute  of  scienti 
fic  worth,  and  repeated  in  the  shameless  public 
prints  without  such  restrictions  as  I  would  place, 
have  weakened  all  bonds.  The  family  is  no  longer 
considered,  and  the  state  itself  is  in  danger.  Such 
are  my  matured  sentiments. 

Von   Sendlingen 
You  appear  to  have  reason  on  your  side. 

Berger 

There  are  always  alleviating  circumstances,  and 
the  law  must  not  offend  by  becoming  too  legal. 

Dernegg 

You  assuredly  are  the  right  lawyer  for  this  wo 
man.  It  must  be  admitted,  howrever,  that  the  best 
intents  of  justice  are  frequently  served  by  leaning 
towards  the  side  of  mercy. 

Von  Werner 

Yet  within  a  comparatively  brief  period  the  num 
ber  of  crimes  of  this  very  sort  has  doubled.  Even 
I  have  been  lenient ;  I  can  point  to  no  instance  of  the 
capital  penalty  for  this  most  heinous  crime  in  the 
past  dozen  years.  (Coughs  and  walks  about.} 

Von   Sendlingen 

There  will  be  an  early  change  in  that  respect. 
The  Minister  of  Justice  holds  to  your  opinion,  and 
he  will  recommend  a  more  stringent  enforcement 
of  the  law.  An  unfortunate  decision  in  my  opinion. 
The  roots  of  this  social  disease  strike  deeper  than 
we  deem  and  are  not  to  be  extirpated  by  the  severest 
of  punishments.  In  the  disturbed  condition  of  the 
times,  the  dark  uncertainties  hovering  over  so  many, 
in  the  harshness  belonging  to  all  transition,  violent 


ACT  I  15 

or  half-suppressed,  lies  the  origin  of  this  increase 
of  crime.  The  strong  hand  of  the  executive  is  not 
so  much  required  as  the  schoolmaster  and  the  sincere 
upholder  of  religion. 

Von  Werner 

(With  owlish  solemnity.}  The  circumstances 
in  the  present  case  are  of  the  most  repellant  char 
acter,  and  we  can  be  of  service  to  the  general  weal 
by  beginning  the  salutary  punishment  of  the  crime 
here.  (Stares.) 

Dernegg 

The  affair  has  not  been  probed  to  the  bottom. 
The  most  important  witness  in  this  case  is  far  from 
unassailable. 

Berger 

The  woman  is  struck  dumb  by  the  fate  which  has 
overtaken  her.  She  is  buried  in  a  kind  of  stupor 
from  which  nothing  arouses  her.  She  refuses  all 
defense,  and  I  shall  act  in  her  behalf  entirely  against 
her  will.  I  fully  believe,  however,  that  we  are  far 
from  a  sufficient  understanding  of  the  case. 
Von  Sendllngen 

My  confidence  in  you,  Von  Werner,  in  the  clear 
ness  of  your  understanding,  in  your  goodness,  is  com 
plete.  At  the  same  time,  due  regard  must  be  had 
to  all  aspects  of  the  affair. 

(His  face  is  thoughtful  and  serene  as  he  opens 
the  document  in  his  hand.  He  reads  over  the  brief 
writing  there,  once,  twice,  three  times.  Then  he 
gives  forth  a  dull,  hoarse,  choking  cry,  an  utterance 
of  deadly  fear.  His  face  whitens  visibly,  his  features 
assume  a  look  of  horror,  the  eyes  stare  with  a  mean 
ingless  intensity  on  the  paper.) 


16  THE  JUDGE 

Von  Werner 

Great  God!  Are  you  ill?  Do  you  know  this 
creature,  this  infamous  murderess? 

Berger 
Victor — my  dear  friend — water  there — help. 

Von   Sendlingen 

It  is  nothing — pardon  me — you  know  that  with 
increasing  years  my  heart  trouble  has  grown  de 
cidedly  worse.  The  life  in  Vienna,  too,  during 
these  past  weeks,  so  different  from  the  quiet  regu 
larity  to  which  I  am  accustomed,  has  been  far  from 
good  for  me.  I  am  no  longer  what  I  was.  It  will 
not  last  many  years  now — perhaps  it  will  only  be  a 
few  months  or  days — ha!  ha!  I  have  kept  it  as  still 
as  I  could. 

Von   Werner 

That  is  so,  indeed.  I  have  been  surprised  at 
your  vigor,  so  unusual  in  my  experience.  Shall  we 
not  send  for  your  physician?  (With  exaggerated 
solicitude.) 

Berger 

Yes,  Victor,  let  me  go  at  once.  This  business 
is  not  pressing;  it  can  be  postponed. 

Von   Sendlingen 

The  examination  is  set  for  the  day  after  tomor 
row  ;  it  can  be  held  here  in  my  room ;  and  yet — 
(He  breaks  off  as  if  he  were  conscious  that  he  is 
making  revelations  which  it  were  best  to  leave  un 
said.  Then  he  proceeds.)  I  must,  indeed,  ask  the 
privilege  of  deferring  the  looking  over  of  these 
papers  for  a  half-hour,  or  say  an  hour.  By  that 
time  I  shall  be  thoroughly  restored.  Good  morn 
ing,  for  the  present,  my  friends.  George,  you  will 


ACT  I  i? 

remain  with  me. 

Von   Werner 

( To  Dernegg  as  they  are  leaving.)  His  behavior 
is  very  strange.  (Coughs.)  We  surely  cannot 
attribute  the  attack  to  anything  in  these  dull  re 
ports.  Heart  disease  has  its  freaks  and  whim 
sicalities,  so  to  speak,  quite  unforseeable,  quite  un 
accountable.  (Looks  back  with  a  sort  of  sympathe 
tic  grimace.) 

Von   Sendlingen 

Death,  death,  and  at  my  hands!  Can  I  let  it 
reach  that  conclusion?  Her  blood  will  cry  out 
against  me  and  my  sin!  Yet  what  am  I  to  do?  Is 
any  help  possible?  (He  reads  from  the  paper.) 
"Victorine  Lippert,  Born  25  Jan.  1834,  at  Rauditz. 
Governess.  'Murder  of  her  child,  Examination 
Nov.  8,  1852.  God,  God  have  pity  upon  me! 
Berger 

Victor,  what  is  the  meaning  of  all  this?  What 
have  you  to  do  with  the  wretched  governess  of  the 
Countess  Riesner?  You  are  beside  yourself.  Let 
me  ring  for  Franz.  I  will  go  for  the  good  old  Doc 
tor  and  return  as  soon  as  I  can.  Or  tell  me  all 
about  it.  Perhaps  that  will  give  you  peace.  The 
time  is  short  and  Von  Werner  will  be  punctual,  as 
usual. 

(Von  Sendlingen  caresses  him  and  makes  a  few 
inarticulate  efforts  to  speak,  then  buries  his  face  in 
his  hands  on  the  table  before  him.  His  body  ^quiv 
ers  with  emotion.) 

Von  Sendlingen 

(After  some  time.)  George,  George,  I  shall 
tell  you  what  makes  me  the  most  miserable  man 


1 8  THE  JUDGE 

in  the  world, — it  is  a  strange  and  sad  story,  (He 
raises  his  head  and  makes  a  strong  effort  at  mas 
tery.} 

Berger 

Speak  briefly  and  rapidly.  I  am  this  woman's 
counsellor,  and  I  will  help  her  and  you  to  what  ex 
tent  I  can. 

(Von  Sendlingen  rises  from  his  chair,  paces  up 
and  down  the  room,  and  mutters  half  to  himself  as 
if  absorbed  in  some  dark  and  agonizing  recollec- 
ti'in.) 

Von   Sendlingen 

The  fate  we  build  up  around  us  by  our  own 
action  raises  its  little  wall  so  slowly  and  gradually 
that  we  do  not  see  this  at  all  in  the  beginning; 
higher  and  higher  the  barracade  becomes,  and  final 
ly  we  are  imprisoned,  and  the  sky  shows  only  as 
a  narrow  strip  of  blue  over  our  heads.  I  felt  secure 
in  these  latter  years;  life  had  been  so  gentle  and 
benign,  I  had  hoped  by  good  deeds  manifold  to  have 
expiated  and  earned  my  peace,  but  it  is  vain  to 
expect  absolution  except  by  the  definite  undoing 
of  the  wrong  in  which  we  have  become  entangled. 
Now  this  horrible  return  of  my  deed,  so  far  away, 
so  long  ago!  If  I  could  bear  it  alone!  If  the 
suffering  came  but  to  me!  Why  should  another 
soul,  another  heart,  whose  right  to  all  innocence 
and  happiness  is  incontestable,  be  forced  to  endure 
the  woe  and  shame,  and  all  through  me,  through 
me,  most  helpless  and  guilty  of  men.  What  can  I 
do?  Whither  cant  I  turn? 

Berger 

(Greatly  agitated.)  Victor,  master  yourself,  for 
my  sake,  for  your  own  sake,  be  calm,  let  me  call 


ACT  i  19 

for  Franz,  you  are  not  now  in  a  condition  to  tell 
me  anything.  You  no  doubt  overestimate  the  diffi 
culties  of  your  position  as  we  all  do  when  trouble 
overtakes  us.  When  you  have  had  time  to  collect 
yourself,  you  will  be  better  able  to  talk  the  mat 
ter  over,  and  consider  what  most  needs  to  be  done. 

Von   Sendlingen 

(Breathing  heavily  and  pausing  before  Berger.) 
What  is  that  case  of  the  embezzling  cashier  of  the 
manufacturing  establishment,  the  largest  in  the  city? 
Has  he  been  dealt  with  ? 

Berger 

(With  an  expression  of  amazement.)  His  mind 
is  giving  way.  No,  he  is  out  on  bail.  Moreover, 
his  sister,  a  very  wealthy  woman,  has  made  good  the 
entire  loss,  and  there  has  been  no  interruption  of 
business  on  his  account.  Von  Werner,  however, 
talks  of  the  majesty  of  the  law  and  its  due  vindica 
tion. 

Von   Sendlingen 

Von  Werner — Von  Werner — he  glares  back  at 
me  everywhere.  It  ought  to  be  as  you  say.  The 
man  has  been  amply  punished  by  his  loss  of  posi 
tion  and  the  pain  he  has  endured.  But  Victorine 
Lippert !  Von  Werner  must  preside  at  her  examin 
ation  and  trial,  and  he  has  already  expressed  his 
judgment  upon  her.  I  have  myself  put  the  strong 
est  weapon  into  his  hands  by  telling  him  what  the 
Minister  of  Justice  thinks  of  such  offenses.  It 
is  another  way  in  which  Fate  is  winding  its  coils 
about  me.  Had  I  only  known!  No,  she  must  be 
saved  in  some  way!  I  must  preside  at  that  exarn- 


20  THE  JUDGE 

ination  and  trial.  I  cannot  trust  to  that  correct 
and  righteous  man.  She  must  be  saved,  George, 
she  must  be  saved! 

Berger 

In  the  name  of  all  that  is  reasonable,  be  seated, 
Victor.  I  have  already  been  so  stirred  to  pity  by  the 
plight  in  which  Victorine  Lippert  finds  herself  that 
I  had  made  up  my  mind  to  leave  no  stone  unturned 
to  secure  for  her  the  lightest  of  sentences.  Now 
comes  your  unaccountable  interest  in  her  to  pro 
voke  me  to  intenser  activity. 

Von   Sendlingen 

(Seating  himself  and  muttering.)  Can  I  tell  an> 
one?  Yet  it  must  be.  What  will  become  of  me? 
What  will  become  of  her? 

Berger 

(Firmly.)      I    can    see    no    use    in   carrying   this 
hesitation  further.     I  do  not  see  that  I  can  do  any 
thing  for  you.     (Rises  as  if  to  go.) 
Von   Sendlingen 

(Agitatedly.)  No — No — No — You  must  stay, 
you  must  stay. 

Berger 
Who  then  is  this  Victorine  Lippert? 

Von   Sendlingen 

Heaven  have  mercy  upon  me,  George,  she  is  my 
own  child,  she  is  my  daughter! 

Berger 

Your  daughter!  Impossible!  You  are  deceiving 
yourself!  Yet  take  courage!  Poor  child! 

Von   Sendlingen 

(Seating  himself  and  with  much  effort.)  No, 
George,  my  best  and  only  friend  and  helper,  I  can- 


ACT  I  21 

not  mistake,  the  name,  the  place,  the  date,  all  prove 
to  me  the  folly  of  doubting  in  the  least.  Would 
that  I  might  throw  off  the  conviction  that  deepens 
and  darkens  over  me  with  increasing  strength  and 
sinister  effect.  I  would  leap  at  the  chance  which 
left  it  open  to  me  to  think  that  I  am  in  error,  but 
I  have  no  time  to  delude  myself.  You  will  show 
me  the  way  out  of  this  fate,  you  will  find  some 
means  of  escape  both  for  her  and  for  me. 
Berger 

Whatever  can   be   done,   I   will   do.     There  are 
many  expedients,   right  and   honorable,  which  you 
know  as  well  as  I,  and  not  one  shall  be  left  untried. 
Von   Sendlingen 

The  story  of  my  life  must  come  first.  You  must 
judge  me  as  you  deem  best.  Only  for  God's  sake 
do  not  abandon  me,  do  not  let  me  fight  this  battle 
single-handed. 

Berger 

Tell  me  not  a  word.  The  past  is  your  own ;  out 
of  it  has  come  to  me  the  friendship  which  has  lifted 
me  to  what  I  know  of  the  highest,  I  need 
not  inquire  into  any  antecedents;  I  am  at  your 
side  to  add  what  strength  I  have  to  yours.  I  know 
that  you  are  troubled,  and  I  can  be  of  service.  Still 
I  feel  strongly  that  you  must  be  mistaken.  You 
can  have  nothing  to  do  with  this  Victorine — Vic 
tor, — Victor — I  am  lost  and  bewildered! 

Von   Sendlingen 

Yes,  everything  concurs.  Here  then  in  brief  are 
the  facts.  It  is  another  of  those  unhappy  experi 
ences  which  belong  to  so  many  youths  and  early 
manhoods,  and  which  we  think  inevitable  adjuncts 


22  THE  JUDGE 

of  our  civilization.  So  little  knowledge  have  we 
gained  of  the  significance  of  youthful  passions,  and 
so  little  have  we  accomplished  for  their  due  develop 
ment  and  purification.  You  know  what  a  family 
I  belong  to.  We  date  our  ancestry  back  to  the  time 
when  Caesar  crossed  the  Rhine  to  enter  into  in 
decisive  conflict  with  Ariovistus  and  his  Germans; 
indeed  we  mention  the  barbarians  who  were  honor 
ed  in  founding  so  great  a  house.  It  is  a  long  line 
of  heroes  and  counsellors.  As  if  a  man's  soul  an 
tedated  the  period  of  his  awrakening  into  a  consci 
ousness  of  himself,  as  if  he  had  been  before  he  really 
learned  to  live  and  think.  My  father  made  a  mesal 
liance;  he  was  forced  to  marry  my  mother  by  the 
proud  recititude  of  my  grandfather,  but  he  was 
exiled  to  an  obscure  and  wretched  estate  of  the 
family's,  to  eat  out  his  heart  in  despair  and  solitude. 
My  parents  had  supposed  that  they  loved  each  other ; 
never  was  there  a  more  terrible  mistake.  I  grew  up 
in  an  atmosphere  of  hate  and  fear  and  appalling 
suffering.  (He  pauses  as  if  overcome  with  emotion.} 

Berger 

Do  not  torture  yourself  by  lingering  over  details. 
Tell  me  just  enough  to  make  me  intelligent  in  my 
labors  for  you  in  the  present  emergency. 

Von   Sendlingen 

My  father,  before  his  death,  made  me  take  a 
solemn  vow  that  I  would  never  ally  myself  to  a  wo 
man  whose  rank  was  less  than  my  own.  He  would 
save  me  from  the  agony  which  had  overtaken  him. 
After  his  decease — my  mother  had  died  somewhat 
earlier — my  relatives  flocked  around  me,  welcomed 
me  as  the  legitimate  bearer  of  a  great  name,  and 


ACT  I  23 

set  me  with  everything  in  my  favor  on  the  path  of 
my  career.  I  chose  the  law,  made  rapid  progress, 
and  notwithstanding  my  youth  was  appointed  Judge 
in  a  town  in  Hungary. 

Berger 

What  an  abominable  place  for  an  inexperienced 
jurist! 

Von   Sendlingen 

You  can  really  have  no  conception  of  the  situa 
tion.  The  town  was  a  mass  of  ruins,  inhabited  by 
a  population  degraded  and  brutalized.  The  no 
bility  were,  save  for  their  barbaric  love  of  splendor, 
worse  than  the  people.  They  spent  their  lives  in 
the  vainest  and  most  sordid  of  pleasures,  and  drew 
their  revenues  largely  from  persistent  smuggling 
and  systematized  robbery.  I  held  myself  aloof  as 
long  as  I  could,  and  excused  myself  because  of  the 
great  pressure  of  work  devolving  upon  me. 

Berger 
A  very  temporary  retirement,  I  can  readily  see. 

Von   Sendlingen 

I  delayed  the  plunge  to  the  uttermost,  but  was 
?,t  length  obliged  to  accept  the  invitations  of  one 
Mirescul,  the  most  unscrupulous  and  daring  scoun 
drel  of  the  whole  villainous  nobility.  What  a 
travesty  that  word  is  as  applied  to  them!  It  was 
at  his  house  that  I  met  her — Hermina  Lippert,  the 
gentlest,  tenderest,  sweetest  of  women,  the  mother 
of  Victorine,  the  mother  of  my  child. 

(He  places  both  his  hands  upon  his  heart  and 
trembles  violently.  Berger  stands  over  him  in  great 
alarm.  He  proceeds.)  She  was  a  governess  in  the 
family.  Why  prolong  the  tale?  We  loved  madly 


24  THE  JUDGE 

from  the  first ;  such  vehemence  comes  to  man  or  wo 
man  but  once  in  a  lifetime.  The  Miresculs  threw 
us  together  and  gave  us  every  opportunity.  When  a 
guest  in  the  house,  I  was  given  the  room  adjoining 
hers.  The  catastrophe  came  all  too  soon.  We  were 
married  secretly.  Mirescul  was  brought  before 
me,  charged  with  smuggling.  He  begged  to  see 
me  alone.  He  threatened  ruin  to  her  and  to  me  if 
I  did  not  take  measures  to  secure  his  release.  I  was 
swept  off  my  feet,  I  was  overwhelmed. 

Berger 

You  entered  the  thick  of  the  conflict  very  early. 

Von   Sendlingen 

I  allowed  Mirescul  to  go  on  his  own  recogniz 
ance.  What  was  I  to  do?  My  duty  as  Judge,  my 
oath  to  my  father,  my  place  as  the  representative 
of  an  old  family,  my  love  for  the  woman  who  had 
given  up  all  for  me,  aroused  a  storm  which  was 
shattering  my  whole  being.  I  received  a  note  from 
her.  She  had  been  grossly  affronted  by  Mirescul, 
who  had  sought  to  wring  from  her  a  promise  to 
exert  herself  with  me  in  his  behalf,  and  she  had  fled 
from  the  house.  She  was  awaiting  me.  I  went  to 
her  immediately  and  tried  by  all  means  in  my  power 
to  reassure  her. 

Berger 

How  did  it  come  about  that  you  left  her?  Oh, 
forgive  that  question. 

Von   Sendlingen 

Ask  me  for  no  explanations.  I  was  young  and 
beset  with  frightful  complications.  My  release  of 
Mirescul  had  enabled  that  miscreant  to  tamper  with 
the  smuggled  goods,  and  successfully  prevent  his 


ACT  I  25 

conviction  for  the  crimes  which  he  had  so  long  per 
petrated  with  impunity.  I  found  myself  accused  of 
complicity  in  his  defeat  of  justice,  and  gross  failure 
in  official  duty. 

Berger 
What  a  perdicament! 

Von   Sendl'mgen 

My  relatives  came  at  once  to  my  side ;  they  were 
stern  and  imperative ;  they  had  but  little  to  say 
about  ^he  error  of  my  ways  and  the  folly  of  my  ac 
tions.  They  engaged  to  deliver  me  from  the  dis 
asters  which  wrere  hanging  over  me,  but  they  gave 
me  plainly  to  understand  that  life  with  Hermina 
was  impossible.  My  father's  misfortunes  \vere  not 
left  without  sufficient  and  gloomy  allusion.  I  can- 
riot  look  back  upon  that  time,  I  cannot  account  for 
my  conduct,  I  cannot  defend  it.  I  allowed  myself 
to  be  rescued ;  I  never  saw  Hermina  again.  I  wrote 
to  her  and  offered  her  honorable  maintenance;  she 
refused,  and  disappeared.  And  I  never  knew  that 
I  had  a  child  until  I  saw  her  name  and  birthplace 
on  this  paper  today. 

Berger 

A  knock!     You  cannot  see  anyone  now. 

Franz 

(Enters.)  Count  Riesner  very  earnestly  begs  to 
see  yoi1. 

Von   Sendl'mgen 

Count  Riesner?  What  can  he  want  here  today? 
Riesner  of  all  men  in  the  world!  He,  the  betrayer 
of  my — my — 

Berger 
Victor!     You  forget  that  we  are  not  alone. 


26  THE  JUDGE 

Franz 

I  knew  that  there  was  something  going  on.  He 
needs  me  to  look  after  him.  I  will  tell  Brigitta. 
What  answer  am  I  to  make  to  the  Count? 

Berger 

On  second  thought  I  advise  you  to  admit  him. 
Not  a  chance  is  to  be  lost! 

Von  Sendlingen 

I  cannot.  It  is  he  who  has  brought  all  this  shame 
upon  me.  Yet  \vhat  right  have  I  to  say  a  single 
word  against  him.  Am  I  not  as  guilty  as  he? — 
Tell  the  Count  that  I  will  see  him  at  once. 

Franz 

Guilty!  You  are  very  strangely  altered.  You 
are  ill ;  let  me  tell  the  Count  to  come  some 
other  time.  You  could  not  have  slept  well  last 
right  and  these  early  breakfasts  were  never  good 
for  you. 

Von   Sendlingen 

Go  at  once,  and  do  not  keep  the  Count  waiting 
any  longer. 

Franz 

He  never  talked  to  me  in  that  \vay  before.  I 
shall  go  for  the  Doctor  at  once.  At  his  time  of 
life  it  is  bad  staying  at  hotels  in  large  towns  and 
being  so  irregular.  What  can  be  the  matter  any 
how?  (Passes  out.) 

Berger 

Bring  your  strength  all  together  in  meeting  this 
young  man.  He  may  have  weighty  disclosures  to 
make.  He  may  have  come  for  some  cause  far  from 
praiseworthy,  and  you  must  needs  exercise  all  your 


ACT  I  27 

acumen,  and  pierce  his  concealments  through  and 
through. 

(The  count   enters.) 

Von   Sendlingen 

(After  the  usual  greetings.)  Your  presence  is 
not  wholly  unexpected,  Count  Riesner,  and  I  ad 
mire  the  candor  which  you  display.  I  take  it  for 
granted  that  you  wish  to  talk  about  Victorine  Lip- 
pert. 

Count  Henry 

That  is  what  I  am  here  for. 
Von   Sendlingen 

My  friend,  Berger,  is  her  counsel,  appointed  by 
the  court,  and  your  communications  need  his  ear 
as  well  as  mine. 

Count  Henry 

I  trust  that  you  will  pardon  me,  if  I  seem  agitat 
ed,  and  even  incoherent.  I  have  been  through  so 
much  in  these  last  days,  and  I  have  had  such  diffi 
culty  in  getting  here  that  I  need  some  time  to  be 
calm  enough  to  ask  you  a  few  questions.  I  had, 
indeed,  been  sent  away  to  England,  but  I  succeeded 
in  eluding  my  companions,  and  I  am  now  doing 
what  I  can  to  prevent — my  mother — from  finding 
my  abiding  place.  I  would  do  what  lies  in  me  to 
make  reparation  to  Victorine,  whom  I  love  more 
deeply  today  than  ever  before.  My  mother  is  in 
flexible.  She  is  infuriated  at  the  poor  girl.  I  was 
kept  away  when  the  quarrel  took  place  or  I  should 
have  been  at  Victorine's  side.  I  would  have  mar 
ried  her  if  they  had  not  driven  her  out  of  the  house. 
I  found  it  out  through  an  inadvertence  of  one  of 
my  traveling  companions,  and  I  made  all  expedi- 


28  THE  JUDGE 

tion  I  could  in  returning.     What  can  I  do,  what 
can  I  do? 

Von   Sendlingen 

You  say  that  you  are  stopping  in  town? 
Count  Henry 

Not  exactly  in  town,  but  very  near  it.  My  moth 
er  as  yet  knows  nothing  of  my  return,  but  she  must 
find  it  out  soon,  this  very  morning,  no  doubt,  and 
then  the  difficulties  surrounding  me  will  be  much 
increased. 

Von   Sendlingen 

You  would  help  this  woman  accused  of  so  dark 
an  offense  ? 

Count  Henry 

Yes,  I  appeal  to  you  as  I  would  to  a  father. 
You  can  help  her,  you  can  show  me  what  to  do. 
You  can  be  as  a  father  to  both  of  us.  I  love  her 
with  all  my  heart,  and  the  days  were  so  full  of 
happiness.  I  cannot  allow  myself  to  think  what  she 
has  endured,  it  makes  me  feel  as  if  I  should  go  mad. 
I  will  marry  her,  and  we  can  go  far  away.  She  is 
as  innocent  of  any  crime  as  God  himself,  who  made 
her  to  be  glad  and  happy  and  beautiful. 

Berger 

These  things  are  not  so  easily  settled  as  you 
suppose.  We  are  no  longer  discussing  some  trifling 
misfortune  transpiring  within  the  charmed  realm 
which  we  are  pleased  to  call  society.  This  is  an 
affair  in  which  society,  properly  so  called,  is  con 
cerned,  and  the  part  you  are  to  play  is  not  without 
serious  danger  to  yourself. 


ACT  I  29 

Count  Henry 

You  wrong  me,  you  wrong  me  greatly  by  these 
insinuations.  Has  she  not  been  placed  in  jeopardy 
of  her  life  ?  Is  she  not  now  menaced  with  the  pun 
ishment  of  death  ?  I  shall  take  my  place  beside  her, 
to  suffer  with  her,  to  expose  my  guilt  and  shame, 
and  with  your  help  to  rescue  her  from  the  peril  that 
en: ings  her.  Can  anything  be  done? 

Von   Sendlingen 

Are  you  willing  to  appear  in  Court  and  testify 
in  her  behalf? 

Count  Henry 

That  is  a  small  matter.  I  will  do  anything, 
everything. 

Von   Sendlingen 

You  are  willing  to  make  reparation  in  the  way 
of  marriage? 

Count  Henry 

To  watch  over  her,  to  win  her  forgiveness,  to 
make  her  future  forget  this  past,  will  be  the  en 
deavor  of  my  whole  life. 

Von   Sendlingen 

Remember  what  you  sacrifice.     Can  you  hope  for 
happiness  in  such  a  marriage?     It  has  been  tried, 
and  the  consequences  have  been  most  wretched. 
Count  Henry 

To  save  her  is  the  only  thought  that  has  lodg 
ment  in  my  brain.  Till  she  is  safe,  I  can  speak  of 
nothing.  What  have  I  to  do  with  my  own  happi 
ness?  Should  I  never  know  another  minute  of 
gladness,  it  would  not  heap  upon  me  half  the  misery 
through  which  she  has  been  dragged;  and  through 
no  fault  that  deserved  such  relentless  persecution. 


30  THE  JUDGE 

The  devotion  of  a  whole  life,  at  whatever  cost,  is 
not  an  equivalent  for  the  agony  which  has  been  hers. 

Berger 

As  counsellor  for  this  poor  creature,  hounded  and 
sore  beset,  and  close  to  the  perilous  precipice,  where 
an  ignominious  death  awaits  her,  I  shall  accept  this 
unforeseen  assistance.  I  shall  come  to  you  and  con 
sult  with  you  more  fully.  You  will  entrust  me 
with  your  address?  You  know  where  to  find  me. 

Count  Henry 

(Writing  on  a  card.}  It  is  here;  but  you  will 
be  cautious.  For  the  present  I  must  not  be  seen. 

Von   Sendlingen 
I  may  see  that  card  ? 

Count  Henry 

It  is  on  you  chiefly  that  I  rely.     (Berger  hands 
Von  Sendlingen  the  card,  and  the  latter  places  it  at 
once  in  a  drawer  of  his  desk.) 
Berger 
(To   Riesner.    Smilingly.)      You   can   trust  me. 

Von   Sendlingen 

You  shall  redeem  yourself  and  her.  Not  an  ex 
pedient  known  to  the  law  will  be  left  untried.  The 
outlook  is  dark,  but  we  have  some  reason  to  hope 
for  better  things. 

Count  Henry 
Thank  you  both  for  that.     (Leaves.) 

Berger 

(Coming  closer  to  Von  Sendlingen.)  Providence 
is  working  for  us  in  unexpected  ways.  Who  could 
have  supposed  that  a  young  man  like  Riesner  would 
act  thus?  His  imperious  mother  has,  it  appears, 
brought  into  the  world  a  son  with  a  determination 


ACT  I  31 

stronger  than  her  own.  Fortunately  for  us  his  will 
has  taken  a  direction  opposite  to  hers.  We  shall 
certainly  be  able  to  avoid— 

Von   Sendlingen 

The  death  penalty.  You  can  speak  plainly.  I 
am  prepared  for  anything.  An  imprisonment  of 
indefinite  duration  would  not  be  an  alleviation;  it 
would,  in  truth,  be  far  worse;  and  then  who  shall 
preside  at  these  examinations? — Who  shall  be  her 
Judge? — and  mine! 

Berger 

Von  Werner  is  an  idiot,  determined  that  the  very 
letter  of  the  law  be  observed.  Can  not  you  preside 
at  the  preliminary? 

Von  Sendlingen 

The  law  forbids  that  a  father  should  preside  in 
any  case  affecting  his  family.  Think  of  it,  George, 
put  yourself  in  my  place.  As  Judge  I  am  the  mouth 
piece  of  the  life  that  beats  in  the  veins  of  the  nation, 
and  further  I  must  see  to  it  that  no  injury  ensues 
to  that  life  through  any  error  of  mine.  All  my 
thought,  my  hope,  my  deeds  have  been  given  to  the 
service  of  this  high  reality  ever  since  maturity  claim 
ed  me.  Now  I  am  called  to  sit  in  judgment  upon 
her,  my  own  flesh  and  blood,  whom  my  eager  pas 
sion  and  reckless  seizure  of  delight  brought  into 
being,  and  she  now  staggers  under  the  weight  of 
the  destiny  which  should  be  mine.  What  she  en 
dures  is  wrhat  I  ought  to  endure;  if  she  dies,  it  is 
I  who  ought  to  stand  in  her  place.  Innocent  girl, 
caught  in  the  mad  whirl  of  my  actions,  she  bears 
the  blame  and  the  burden,  while  I  am  honored  of 


32  THE  JUDGE 

men,  called  to  a  higher  post  of  administering  justice, 
and  drinking  in  with  ardent  ears  the  gratulatory 
speeches  of  my  fellows.  I  am  the  doer;  she  is  the 
expiator!  It  is  horrible! 

Ber get- 
In  the  very  views  which  you  are  now  expressing 
you  are  acting  as  the  high-thoughted  Judge  of  the 
Judge;  who  so  well  fitted  to  think  the  right  and  to 
give  it  outward  potency  as  yourself?  If  the  law 
does  not  explicitly  forbid,  it  is  your  duty  and  priv 
ilege  to  take  upon  yourself  this  serious  task.  You 
can  be  trusted  to  be  severe  enough  upon  yourself. 
In  you  always  the  stern  impersonality  of  justice  has 
shown  its  milder  aspect  of  merciful  regard  for  the 
erring  and  misguided  and  hapless,  and  that  mingled 
strength  and  tenderness  will  speak  through  you  the 
words  and  decision  of  the  Highest,  yes,  Victor,  of 
Gcd! 

Von  Sendlingen 

You  tempt  me  sorely,  but  it  must  not,  cannot  be. 
Find  some  other  path  out  of  the  labyrinth,  help  me, 
help  me! 

Brigitta 

(Entering  in  haste.}  Von  Sendlingen  greets  her 
with  much  feeling.)  I  could  not  stand  it  a  minute 
more.  I  waited  to  have  you  send  for  me,  and  I 
hopfvi  tbiit  ail  this  business  would  soon  be  over. 
Franz  said  you  were  far  from  well.  We  have  long 
ed  to  see  you,  and  expected  to  welcome  you  in  our 
good  homely  way,  and  we  find  that  you  are  ill  and 
troubled  and  so  engaged  that  you  do  not  want  us 
to  come  and  speak  to  you. 


ACT  I  33 

Von  Sendlingen 

My  good  Brigitta,  my  best  thanks  are  due  you 
and  Franz,  and  I  shall  be  more  suited  to  the  old 
pleasures  and  quietude  in  a  short  while.  Only  be' 
patient  with  me  a  little  longer.  But  Brigitta,  1 
have  a  word  to  say  to  you  just  now.  You  have 
heard  of  this — this — Victorine  Lippert? 

Brigitta 

My  heart  went  out  to  her  as  I  saw  her  entering 
her  cell  a  short  time  ago. 

Von  Sendlingen 

That  is  quite  like  yourself.  I  wish  you  to  go  to 
her. — I  will  see  that  the  necessary  permission  is 
granted.  You  will  bring  to  her  the  womanly  min 
istrations  of  which  she  must  be  in  need.  You  will 
be  gentle  with  her,  and  speak  comfort  to  her,  and 
ease  her  overburdened  soul.  For  my  sake,  Brigitta, 
for  my  sake! 

Brigitta 

For  your  sake? 

Von   Sendlingen 

Yes,  I  will  explain  at  some  other  time.  You  must 
go  to  her  this  very  afternoon.  Now,  Brigitta,  I 
shall  have  some  gentlemen  at  dinner,  and  I  shall 
also  wish  you  to  take  some  of  the  best  we  have 
from  my  own  table  to  the  wretched  girl  yonder. 

Brigitta 

It  shall  be  done  as  you  wish,  but  I  have  a  small 
commission  to  fulfill.  Here  is  an  old  bunch  of  keys 
which  I  found  in  a  disused  drawer  of  your  desk — 
we  have  had  a  thorough  cleaning  up  in  your  ab 
sence — and  I  have  taken  great  care  of  them.  They 
should  be  put  away  in  a  secure  place. 


34  THE  JUDGE 

Von   Sendlingen 

I  have  some  vague  recollection  of  them.  They 
belonged  to  my  predecessor.  I  did  not  attach  any 
importance  to  them. 

Berger 

(Taking  the  keys.)  Curious  lot  of  old  rusty 
rubbish!  I  do  not  believe  that  any  one  of  them 
can  be  of  the  smallest  use. 

Brigitta 

Yet  this  insignificant  one  (pointing  to  it  distinct 
ly)  opens  a  door  in  the  wall  between  the  houst; 
yard  and  the  prison  yard.  The  door  is  so  con 
structed,  and  time  has  so  colored  it  and  the  adjacent 
masonry,  that  you  can  find  it  only  with  difficulty. 
Franz  and  I  looked  for  it,  and  at  last  came  upon  it 
after  a  close  survey  of  the  whole  wall.  Franz  re 
membered  the  fact  of  this  key  being  the  one  that 
fits  in  the  old  lock. 

Von  Sendlingen 

That  is  the  key  to  the  door,  you  say?  (Takes  it 
and  scrutinizes  it  very  seriously.) 

Berger 

In  this  old-fashioned,  not  to  say  mediaeval,  com 
bination  of  prison  and  dwelling,  no  doubt  we  can 
find  any  number  of  doors  and  posterns  and  corri 
dors  that  no  one  today  suspects  of  being  at  all. 
Queer  that  we  should  still  allow  ourselves  to  live 
in  a  style  that  has  nothing  to  do  with  our  century. 
Here  are  Judge's  dwelling,  court-rooms,  and  pris 
ons,  all  practically  under  one  roof.  A  hideous  ar 
rangement  and  one  which  we  shall  change  in  due 
time. 


ACT  I  35 

Von  Sendlingen 

Thank  you  for  your  care  of  the  keys,  Brigitta. 
It  would  not  be  well  if  they  fell  into  the  wrong 
hands.  I  must  blame  myself  for  not  having  put 
them  carefully  away,  and  am  glad  that  I  have  pos 
session  of  them  with  full  knowledge  of  their  value 
again.  I  had  supposed  them  worthless,  and  admis 
sion  to  the  prison  yard  would,  indeed,  be  of  small 
avail.  Have  a  good  dinner  for  us,  Brigitta.  (Bri 
gitta  goes  out.)  How  all  these  discoveries  over 
whelm  me !  What  a  piece  of  criminal  negligence 
to  leave  the  keys  lying  around  in  this  way. 
Berger 

You  exaggerate  everything  this  morning,  Victor. 
Ah,  there  is  Von  Werner  again.  (Von  Werner 
enters.) 

Von   Werner 

I  hope  that  you  are  recovered.  I  returned  more 
out  of  solicitude  for  you  than  for  any  other 
reason.  Looking  over  the  reports  can  wait  until 
tomorrow.  (Throughout  with  queer  stares  and 
overdone  concern  for  Von  Sendlingen.) 
Von  Sendlingen 

No,  we  will  proceed  at  once.  You  will  both 
dine  with  me  today,  and  the  reading  of  them  can  be 
completed  this  afternoon. 

Von   Werner 

Have  you  decided  about  the  Lippert  examina 
tion? 

Berger 

We   have   been   giving   the   matter  some   con 
sideration. 


36  THE  JUDGE 

Von  Sendlingen 
You  will  forgive  me,  Von  Werner 

Von   Werner 

I  do  not  suppose  I  am  to  be  relieved  of  respon 
sibility.  (Chuckles.) 

Von  Sendlingen 

Some  new  evidence  has  unexpectedly  turned  up. 
I  should  like  the  examination  postponed.  It  could 
occur  a  week  from  today,  and  the  trial  a  week  or 
two  from  that.  Can  the  arrangement  be  made? 

Von   Werner 

It  is  within  your  province  to  do  in  the  affair  as 
you  deem  best.  And  also — (Exhibiting  great  sur 
prise.) 

Von  Sendlingen 

(Slowly  and  deliberately.)  I  shall  preside  at  the 
examination. 

The  Curtain  Falls 


ACT  II 

SCENE. — Library  of  Von  Sendlingen  as  before. 
It  is  arranged  for  a  judicial   exa?nination.     Franz 
and  Brigitta.    A  week  has  elapsed. 
Brigitta 

Everything  is  ready  and  it  is  about  time  for  them 
to  begin. 

Franz 

I  believe  that  I  have  done  just  as  you  told  me; 
or  is  there  something  more?  The  Baron  is  very  ill, 
and  he  always  had  a  dislike  to  the  Court  Room.  I 
don't  wonder.  Just  think  how  old  it  is,  and  what 
scenes  have  been  enacted  there. 

Brigitta 

This  is  not  the  first  time  that  an  examination  has 
been  held  in  this  room.     It  is  a  little  unusual,  but 
the  Judge's  condition  is  a  sufficient  excuse. 
Franz 

What  is  the  matter  anyhow?  You  seem  to  be 
in  the  secret,  for  there  is  a  secret,  and  you  needn't 
try  to  deny  it.  I  am  an  old  man,  and  it  is  hard 
that  I  can't  be  trusted  as  well  as  you,  who  have  not 
been  in  this  house  half  as  long  as  I. 

Brigitta 

Don't  find  any  fault;  you  are  as  good  and  as 
faithful  as  you  can  be,  and,  when  your  help  is  need 
ed,  it  will  be  called  for,  you  may  be  sure. 

Franz 

Are  you  to  be  allowed  in  the  room  this  morning? 
37 


38  THE  JUDGE 

Brigitta 

Yes,  the  Countess  Riesner  may  need  me,  and 
perhaps  the  prisoner  as  well. 

Franz 

Don't  talk  to  me  about  the  Countess.  She  is  a 
dreadful  old  woman,  and  she  will  have  people 
enough  to  look  out  for  her.  You  go  in  to  see  the 
prisoner  every  day,  and  you  are  to  be  at  the  ex 
amination  for  her  sake ;  she  is  in  the  hospital  ward 
now,  isn't  she? 

Brigitta 

Yes;  her  health  is  utterly  broken  down.  She  sees 
nothing,  she  speaks  to  no  one,  she  accepts  what  is 
done  for  her  in  a  dull  and  unmeaning  way,  she 
asks  only  to  be  judged,  and  to  die  as  soon  as  may 
be,  that  all  her  miseries  may  come  to  an  end  at  once. 

Franz 

Yes,  yes,  but  what  have  we  to  do  with  her? 
We've  had  trying  cases  before  now,  but  never  one 
that  sets  us  all  by  the  ears  as  this  one  does.  Why 
should  I  be  left  out  of  it  all?  It  makes  me  mad, 
and  I'm  going  to  have  it  changed.  I  want  to  help, 
too. 

Brigitta 

Hush,  they  are  coming.  You  will  learn  about  it 
soon  enough,  everybody  will  learn  all  that  there 
is  to  be  known,  I  am  greatly  afraid.  (They  pass 
out.) 

(Berger  and  Von  Sendlingen  enter.  The  latter 
has  aged  perceptibly  in  the  week,  his  eyes  are  heavy 
and  dull,  his  hair  has  whitened  about  the  temples, 
and  he  looks  altogether  like  a  very  sick  man.) 


ACT  II  39 

Von   Sendlingen 

The  day  looks  dark  through  the  windows,  and  we 
may  have  snow.     I  feel  cold  and  strengthless. 
Bcrger 

It  seems  sufficiently  warm  in  the  room. 
Von   Sendlingen 

No  doubt.     You  and  the  others  will  find  it  so. 
The  chill  is  in  my  heart,  and  a  winter  bitterer  than 
that  outdoors  is  in  my  brain. 
Berger 

You  are  again  allowing  yourself  to  be  overmas 
tered  by  your  depression,  a  state  which  is  wholly 
foreign  to  you.  I  have  always  observed  in  you  a 
courageous  confronting  of  untoward  conditions, 
which  made  you  appear  more  like  a  man  of  the  eld 
er  time  than  of  our  own  weak  and  vacillating  gen 
eration.  What  has  become  of  your  strength  in  the 
hour  of  greatest  need? 

Von  Sendlingen 

I  do  not  know.  It  is  my  despair  that  I  have  it 
no  longer.  I  grope  around  in  my  futile  weakness, 
and  grow  less  and  less  capable  of  facing  the 
emergency.  I  seem  to  be  the  plaything  of  some  re 
vengeful  power  outside  and  beyond  myself  that  is 
gradually  paralyzing  my  very  heart  and  soul.  Yet 
I  would  not  have  it  otherwise,  strange  to  say.  As 
we  have  sown,  so  must  we  reap.  Deed  is  conjoined 
to  deed,  no  link  is  missing  anywhere,  the  whole  for 
ever  dwells  in  every  part,  and  woe  be  to  him  who 
opposes  the  overwhelming  movement  forwards. 
Wrong  can  be  righted  only  by  an  expiation  which 
replaces  what  has  been  done  by  what  ought  in 
truth  to  be.  We  must  pay  to  the  uttermost  farth 
ing.  I  shall  judge  both  my  child  and  myself. 


40  THE  JUDGE 

Berger 

There  must  be  some  way  of  escape. 
Von  Sendlingen 

Escape?  What  would  you  have?  You  who 
so  deeply  know  the  law  cannot  talk  of  escape. 
A  crime  cannot  be  atoned  by  an  injustice.  Is  there 
anything  that  I  can  do? 

Berger 

Just  now  you  can  shake  off  the  man  that  you  are, 
and  put  on  again  the  man  that  you  were.  These 
forebodings  verge  upon  the  superstitious.  You  have 
always  hitherto  had  fortitude  in  abundance  both 
for  yourself  and  your  friends. 

Von  Sendlingen 

I  am,  indeed,  selfishly  forgetful. 

(Franz  brings  in  the  Countess  Riesner,  Marian- 
na  Brandes,  and  Dr.  Rohn.  After  the  usual  greet 
ings,  they  take  the  seats  pointed  out  to  them. 
Franz  goes  out.) 

Dr.  Rohn 

I  endeavored  to  dissuade  the  Countess  from  com 
ing  at  all.  Her  health,  at  no  time  very  strong,  has 
suffered  much  through  the  agitations  of  the  last 
months.  I  fear  greatly  any  further  excitements.  I 
suggested  to  the  Countess  the  writing  out  of  her 
account  of  the  circumstances  and  sending  it  to  me. 
Von  Sendlingen 

That  would,  undoubtedly,  have  saved  the  Coun 
tess  Riesner  a  disagreeable  hour  or  two,  but  would 
hardly  have  been  satisfactory  from  our  point  of 
view.  The  privileges  of  rank  and  station  are  ex 
tensively  recognized  in  our  laws  and  practices,  but 


ACT  II  41 

at  important  crises  they  yield  of  necessity  to  higher 
considerations. 

Dr.  Rohn 

The  law  in  that  way  is  unquestionably  defective 
as  in  so  many  others. 

Von  Sendlingen 

I  have  been  a  life-long  advocate  of  legal  reforms, 
but  have  been,  nevertheless,  inclined  to  regard  the 
disposition  of  the  law  to  deal  with  the  person  as  such, 
without  considering  differences  of  class  or  riches, 
as  one  of  its  noblest  qualities. 
Dr.  Rohn 

Moreover,  Miss  Brandes  is  a  witness  more  ef 
fective,  as  she  was  with  the  Lippert  woman  on  the 
morning  after  the  murder. 

Von  Sendlingen 

(Starts  perceptibly.)  We  have  not  begun  the 
investigation  as  yet. 

Countess  Riesner 

One  thing,  however,  overcame  all  my  scruples. 
For  this  I  waived  my  failing  health,  rny  increasing 
pain,  my  hatred  of  vulgar  publicity. 

Berger 

The  latter  you  could  hardly  escape  in  any  case, 
my  dear  Countess. 

Afarianna  Brandes 

Collect  yourself,  Madame;  be  strong.  We  seem 
to  find  that  justice  in  the  very  seat  and  palace  there 
of  wears  a  face  and  garb  different  from  the  one  to 
which  we  are  accustomed.  But  the  right  will  pre 
vail,  heaven  watches  over  us. 


42  THE  JUDGE 

Countess 

My  son's  interests  bring  me  here.  For  rhat  de 
signing  and  wicked  female,  who  dwelt  under  my 
roof,  and  enjoyed  privileges  there  not  ordinarily 
granted  to  one  in  her  position  in  life,  I  can  have  only 
feelings  of  mingled  pity  and  aversion.  I  suppose  that 
she  came  into  my  house  with  her  plans  duly  ma 
tured.  The  punishment  for  such  libels  upon  my 
sex,  who  drag  our  name  and  purity  into  the  mire, 
cannot  be  harsh  enough.  The  world  has  too  many 
of  them,  and  the  removal  of  one  will  hardly  mend 
matters. 

Von  Sendlingen 

{With  evident  anger.)  I  must  again  make  it  clear 
to  you  that  a  condemnation  before  a  hearing  does 
not  belong  in  this  room. 

Countess 

Her  own  act  is  already  her  condemnation. 
Von   Sendlingen 

We  shall  see  to  it,  however,  that  the  consequences 
of  an  act  do  not  exceed  the  act  itself. 

Countess 

My  son's  welfare  concerns  me  more  nearly  than 
that  of  this  scheming  and  ambitious  girl. 

Von   Sendlingen 

Your  son  has  in  all  probablity  some  views  of 
his  own  in  the  matter. 

Countess 

I  have  hitherto  found  him  willing  to  admit  that 
my  larger  knowledge  of  life  has  led  me  to  a  clearer 
understanding  of  what  is  needed  than  he  possessed, 
young  as  he  was  and  blinded  by  the  excess  of  feel 
ing. 


ACT  II  43 

Berger 

He  differs  from  you,  then,  in  this  important 
concern  ? 

Countess 

(Looks  at  him  with  some  curiosity.)  The  de 
fender  of  crime  and  debauchery  will,  doubtless,  look 
upon  my  son's  strange  and  misguided  views  with 
leniency  and  support. 

Berger 

The  exact  seat  of  the  debauchery  remains  yet  to 
be  disclosed  and  properly  held  to  execration. 

Marianna  Brandes 

There  is  a  Providence  which  looks  down  upon 
the  world.  It  provides  for  every  moment  of  our 
existence  the  exact  pain  or  pleasure  which  belongs 
to  it.  You  cannot  tell  why  sorrows  should  come  to 
those  so  little  deserving  them,  but  be  courageous  to 
meet  them,  dear  Countess,  and  you  will  arise  from 
them  as  from  a  bath  of  clear  waters,  nobler,  purer, 
if  that  be  possible. 

Countess 

My  son  may  appear  at  the  investigation.  Should 
he  do  so,  I  wish  to  say  beforehand,  that  his  words 
will  be  those  of  a  wholly  irresponsible  being,  and 
they  must  not  be  taken  as  absolving  the  criminal 
from  the  least  shadow  of  her  evil  intents. 
Dr.  Rohn 

I  am  ready  to  present  my  professional  statement 
in  any  form  demanded  that  the  young  man  needs 
the  greatest  oversight,  and  ought  not  to  be  heard 
at  all. 

Berger 

In  plain  terms  you  mean  that  he  is  mad. 


44  THE  JUDGE 

IVLarianna  Brandes 

Be  calm,  dear  madame.  I  warned  you  of  all  this. 
Heaven  is  over  us;  it  will  guide  and  protect  you, 
the  truest  of  its  children. 

(Enter  Von  Werner,  overdressed  in  a  somber 
style  of  extreme  dignity,  Dernegg  a^.i  a  guard. 
After  the  customary  greetings,  they  take  the  places 
prepared  for  them.  At  a  sign  from  Von  Sendlingen 
the  guard  passes  out.} 

Dernegg 

(To  Von  Sendlingen.}  It  is  your  preference,  I 
believe,  to  make  this  examination  informal.  As 
public  prosecutor  I  am  perforce  made  to  proceed 
against  the  young  person  so  heavily  accused,  but 
inasmuch  as  the  circumstances  have  never  been  fully 
developed,  I  am  only  too  glad  to  find  it  possible  to 
seek  extenuating  or  wholly  clearing  incidents  in 
this  complication  of  misfortunes. 

Von   Sendlingen 
You  express  my  wishes. 

Von   Werner 

(Raising  his  hands  in  horror.}  We  must  guard, 
however,  against  the  intrusion  of  sympathy  with 
youth  and  inexperience.  (Looks  with  appealing 
eyes  at  the  Countess.}  Crime  is  yet  crime,  what 
ever  its  attendants;  the  State,  the  whole  of  civiliza 
tion,  rests  upon  correct  judicial  proceedings.  (Gazes 
profoundly  into  vacancy.} 

Marianna  Brandes 

The  angels  look  down  upon  us  again,  dear. 

Countess 

They  are  forever  on  the  side  of  the  right.  Be 
assured  that  all  wrill  be  well.  Due  punishment 


ACT  II  45 

must  be  meted  out  upon  the  offenders  against  our 
old   and   venerated  aristocracy. 

(Count  Henry  enters  and  at  a  motion  from  Von 
Sendlingen  seats  himself  opposite  to  his  mother.) 
Countess 

(To  her  son.}  You  venture  here?  In  your  con 
dition  of  mind?  Dr.  Rohn,  will  you  act  now? 

Dr.  Rohn 

I  wish  to  ask  permission  and  aid  in  removing 
Count  Henry  from  the  room.  I  give  it  as  my  pro 
fessional  opinion — 

Count  Henry 

I  appeal  to  the  Judge.     I  was  never  better.  This 
is  a  manoeuvre  to  keep  me  from  doing  what  is  the 
most  important  act  of  reparation  in  my  life. 
Von   Werner 

(Hurriedly  interrupting.)  Dr.  Rohn's  request  is 
not  in  accordance  with  any  rule  that  occurs  to  me 
now.  (Smiles.)  All  light  is  desirable  in  such  a 
preliminary  as  this.  (Clasps  his  hands  in  front  of 
him.)  Count  Riesner  may  be  the  bearer  of  very 
conclusive  intelligence.  (Coughs.)  We  shall  learn 
all  about  his  condition  of  mind  when  he  is  called 
upon  to  speak.  His  dismissal  cannot  be  entertained 
now.  (Nods  his  head  sagaciously  a  number  of 
times.) 

Berger 

God  be  thanked  for  pedantry  once,  at  least. 

(The  door  at  the  side  opens  and  Victorine  Lip- 
pert  enters  accompanied  by  Brigitta  and  the  guard. 
She  walks  slowly  like  a  person  in  a  dream.  Her 
eyes  stare  before  her  and  she  seems  to  see  no  one. 
She  places  her  arm  over  her  face  as  if  to  hide  it,  cow- 


46  THE  JUDGE 

ers  down  into  the  chair  assigned  her,  and  trembles 
piteously  in  every  limb.) 

Brigitta 

Look  up  at  the  good  Judge.  His  heart  is  full 
of  compassion  for  everyone — certainly  for  you. 

Berger 

(Steps  up  and  speaks  softly  to  her.)  Courage,  my 
young  friend,  courage! 

Victorine 

(As  if  to  herself.)  Why  should  one  suffer  so 
much  as  I  have  done?  Why  does  not  Death  open 
the  door  into  his  rest  and  peace  more  easily?  Why 
did  they  not  let  me  die  in  the  cold  out  under  the 
trees?  Why  was  I  saved  for  this? 

Berger 

(Softly.)  You  shall  not  die.  Life  will  begin 
for  you  again.  Speak  your  mind  freely  and  entire 
ly.  You  will  be  heard  by  ears  that  wish  you  well 
in  every  way.  Stand  firm  against  every  false  accu 
sation.  Hope  for  the  best.  Light  and  life  and 
friendship  and  love  are  waiting  for  you  after  this 
trial  is  over;  I  promise  them  to  you,  my  suffering 
child,  I  promise  them  to  you. 
Victorine 

No,  no ;  why  do  you  disturb  me  ?  I  do  not  know  at 
all  what  you  can  mean.  I  am  ready  for  the  worst; 
let  it  only  come  quickly. 

Dernegg 

This  woman,  your  honor,  is  accused  of  the  dread 
ful  crime  for  whose  investigation  we  are  met  this 
morning. 

Von  Sendlingen 
Let  her  arise  and  face  the  Court. 


ACT  II  47 

Erigitta 

Stand  up,  Victorine,  I  am  here  to  support  you. 
Be  not  afraid. 

Victorine 

Spare  yourself  any  unnecessary  care  of  me.  What 
ever  fear  I  had  is  dead  long  ago.  I  have  but  one 
anxiety,  and  that  is  that  they  will  let  me  live. 
What  can  they  want  of  me? 

Von  Sendlingen 

It  is,  indeed,  a  dreadful  crime  with  which  you 
stand  charged.  Are  you  guilty  or  guiltless  of  these 
sad  accusations  ?  Answer  as  you  value  your  life  and 
your  soul. 

Victorine 

What  can  I  say  to  all  this?  I  do  not  know  any 
man  or  anything  any  more.  I  am  a  poor  dead  wo 
man  who  somehow  yet  breathes  in  your  presence. 
I  have  sinned  deeply,  I  am  guilty  of  much,  oh,  so 
much — I  am  guilty,  your  Honor,  before  men  and 
before  God — but  I  have  been  very  ill,  and  I  am 
ignorant  of  many  things  that  must  have  transpired 
while  my  heart  was  burning  with  pain  and  remorse 
and  fever. 

Dernegg 

You  are  charged  with  slaying  your  newly  born 
child. 

Victorine 

Ah,  God  is  my  witness — surely  he  has  not  al 
together  abandoned  me — as  the  angels  in  heaven 
know  and  could  tell  if  they  only  had  pity  on  a 
miserable  woman  like  me — as  the  good  Saviour, 
Christ,  is  aware — I  can  reveal  nothing  about  the 
death  of  my  child;  they  placed  it  cold  and  still  in 


48  THE  JUDGE 

my  arms;  that  is  all  I  know  about  it;  I  am  not 
sure  that  it  ever  breathed  the  chilly  morning  air; 
punish  me  for  my  fault,  do  with  me  as  you  will, 
bring  me  quickly  into  the  arms  of  waiting  death, 
but  of  the  crime  that  you  speak  so  loud  against  me 
I  am  not  guilty. 

Berger 

Your  honor  will  doubtless  allow  me  to  enter  the 
formal  plea  of  not  guilty  in  behalf  of  my  client  who 
will  tell  her  story  afterwards. 
Von  Werner 

(With  tremendous  and  chilling  bitterness.)  We 
shall  reach  no  adequate  results  in  these  extraordinary 
proceedings  unless  more  usual  and  better  methods 
prevail. 

Countess 

Why  proceed  with  the  examination  at  all  ?  Would 
it  not  be  better  to  wait  until  the  regular  trial? 
Such  would  be  my  pleasure,  and  a  properly  ac 
credited  deposition  would  relieve  me  of  the  dis- 
agreeableness  of  a  further  presence  in  Court. 
Marianna  Brandes 

Heaven  will  surely  bring  this  to  pass. 
Von  Sendlingen 

The  ascertainment  of  the  real  facts  in  the  case,  and 
all  the  facts,  can,  perhaps,  be  more  successfully 
achieved  by  some  departure  from  legal  usage,  and 
we  should  hardly  be  justified  in  the  convening  of 
this  assembly  unless  we  showed  results  from  it  val 
uable  both  to  the  prisoner  and  the  State. 
Count  Henry 

I  suppose  it  is  thoroughly  understood  by  all 
present  that  I  am  here  in  support  of  the  prisoner. 


ACT  II  49 

Countess 

We  know  it  only  too  well. 
Victorine 

(Apparently  seeing  him  for  the  first  time.)  Is 
he  against  me  too  ?  Did  they  succeed  in  tearing  him 
from  me?  No  doubt  he  has  abandoned  me.  I 
tried  by  all  means  in  my  power  to  see  him,  but 
they  sent  him  away,  and  I  had  to  suffer  alone. 

Brigitta 

He  is  your  friend.  He  never  abandoned  you. 
You  have  many  friends  here,  more  than  you  know 
of  at  present. 

Von  Sendlingen 

The  statement  of  the  Countess  will  be  first  in 
-order.  Many  of  the  facts  are  undisputed  and  need 
no  prolongd  attention;  the  evident  ailing  condition 
of  the  accused  warns  us  to  be  as  brief  as  possible. 
Her  strength  must  be  as  fully  restored  as  may  be 
for  the  coming  trial.  Let  no  one  speak  aught  save 
what  he  deems  to  be  the  truth — the  very  truth  it 
self.  The  Countess  will  proceed. 

Countess 

The  motherless  children  left  to  me  by  my  dear, 
departed  daughter  had  been  for  some  time  under  the 
religious  care  of  Miss  Brandes,  who  had  been  in  my 
family  for  a  number  of  years,  a  guide  and  a  men 
tor  in  the  higher  life  which  we  should  all  live  and 
of  which  so  few  of  the  younger  women  of  this  un 
godly  generation  know  anything. 


50  THE  JUDGE 

Von  Sendlingen 

This  is  wholly  irrelevant,  my  good  Countess. 
Miss  Brandes  will  be  heard  later. 

Countess 

Miss  Brandes'  health,  however,  was  not  good,  and 
the  care  of  the  children  wore  upon  her  terribly.  I 
trembled  lest  I  should  lose  her.  I  made  up  my 
mind  to  have  a  governess  for  them.  I  searched  with 
care,  and  hoped  to  have  found  a  suitable  one  in 
Victorine  Lippert,  who  came  with  satisfactory  tes 
timonials,  and  whose  shyness  and  reserve,  conspicu 
ously  assumed  at  our  first  meeting  and  for  some 
time  after  very  successfully  maintained,  inclined  me 
to  favor  her.  I  supposed  that  I  saw  in  her  what 
Marianna — Miss  Brandes — had  been  a  few  years  be 
fore.  How  woefully  was  I  deceived.  The  t»midity 
and  devotion  to  duty  which  marked  the  woman's 
behavior  during  her  first  months  in  my  house  were 
thrown  aside  at  once  with  the  return  of  my  son 
from  Paris,  where  he  had  been  for  some  time  con 
nected  with  the  Austrian  Embassy.  The  friendship, 
wholesome  and  elevating  with  Miss  Brandes,  which 
I  had  gladly  seen  growing  from  her  advent  mto 
our  circle,  was  abruptly  broken  off,  and  poor  Mari 
anna  was  constantly  in  tears  over  the  rebuffs  she 
was  obliged  to  endure.  So  sudden  was  the  change 
coming  over  Victorine  Lippert  that  the  fact  of  her 
having  played  a  shrewd  and  well  matured  part  was 
apparent  at  once.  Her  real  character  came  to  the 
surface,  she  shamefully  and  passionately  threw  her 
self  into  Count  Henry's  arms,  and  evidently  hoped 
to  gain  everything  from  his  youth  and  inexperience. 


ACT  II  51 

Count  Henry 

Mother,  I  must  still  call  you  by  that  name,  how 
can  you  speak  thus  in  the  shadow  of  death,  the  dark 
cloud  of  ignominy,  hovering  over  a  woman  like 
yourself  ? 

Victorine 

(With  a  pale  burst  of  joy.)  I  am  not  wholly 
abandoned.  I  shall  die,  I  shall  go  alone  into  the 
abyss,  the  gloom  there  is  deep,  but  I  see  the  beckon 
ing  of  friendly  hands,  their  light  pierces  the  dark 
ness  around  me  as  I  sink  into  it  beyond  recall. 

Von   Werner 

(Very  decidedly,  with  waving  of  the  hands.) 
The  Countess  must  go  on  without  interruption. 

Countess 

The  consequences  rapidly  ensued  when  unprin 
cipled  passion  in  the  woman  meets  more  than  half 
way  the  hot  blood  of  the  young  man  of  today.  The 
latter  cannot  be  blamed;  these  are  mere  and  com 
mon  incidents  in  his  career.  At  last  the  woman's 
condition  was  such  that  her  further  stay  in  my  house 
was  no  longer  endurable.  I  was  forced  to  make 
it  plain  to  her  that  she  must  go.  She  proved  re 
fractory,  but  she  went,  nevertheless. 

Dernegg 
That  is  the  whole  of  your  evidence? 

Berger 

The  conduct  of  the  accused  is  very  differently  re 
ported  by  other  witnesses. 

Countess 

I  know  nothing  further  directly.  Miss  Brandes 
saw  the  woman  on  the  morning  after  she  left  my 
house. 


52  THE  JUDGE 

Von  Sendlingen 

Miss  Brandes  will  take  up  the  thread  of  the  nar 
rative  where  the  Countess  has  left  it. 

Marianna  Brandes 

As  I  am  heard  in  Heaven,  I  will  tell  in  a  few 
words  what  I  saw  further,  and  I  will  not  permit 
myself  to  deviate  a  hair's  breadth  from  the  narrow 
path  I  must  pursue.  How  right  the  Countess  was 
to  keep  her  son  from  this  contamination — 

Countess 

May  I  not  be  heard  a  moment?  I  have  known 
the  woman  speaking  for  years,  you  all  know  her, 
and — 

Von  Werner 

No,  no;  this  is  an  interruption.     (Half  rises  and 
smiles.)  Miss  Brandes  will  go  on. 
Marianna  Brandes 

Heaven  aid  me  to  bear  calumny.  I  surely  can 
in  the  service  of  the  right.  To  save  the  house  from 
further  scandal,  Miss  Lippert  was  forced  to  leave. 
True  it  is,  that  it  was  an  inclement  night,  and  the 
distance  to  the  nearest  village  considerable.  On  the 
morning  following,  quite  early,  I  thought  it  best, 
accompanied  by  a  faithful  serving  man,  to  find  out 
what  had  become  of  Miss  Lippert.  As  we  passed 
through  the  wood  intervening  between  the  house 
and  the  village,  we  found  her  delirious  on  the 
ground,  a  dead  child  with  cruel  finger  marks  on  its 
neck  by  her  side.  A  woman  from  the  village  was 
beside  her. 

Berger 

It  had  snowed  during  the  night? 


ACT  II  53 

Marianna  Brandes 

I  believe  so.  My  memory  does  not  serve  me  well 
in  regard  to  these  minor  points. 

Berger 

Is  the  woman  from  the  village  somewhere  at 
hand  this  morning? 

Dernegg 

She  lies  in  her  home  very  ill  and  was  wholly  un 
fit  to  come.  We  hope  to  produce  her  and  the  serv 
ing  man  at  the  trial. 

Von  Sendlingen 
This  is  all? 

Dernegg 
I  believe  this  is  all  for  the  present. 

Berger 

(To  Von  Sendlingen.)  You  doubtless  wish  to 
interrogate  the  accused? 

Von  Sendlingen 

You  have  heard,  Victorine  Lippert,  this  arraign 
ment,  which,  I  am  informed,  is  supported  by  other 
corroborative  statements.  You  can  now  refute  it 
by  such  means  as  are  within  your  power.  Speak 
fearlessly;  you  are  in  the  presence  of  justice;  noth 
ing  shall  come  to  you  as  punishment  save  what 
you  have  duly  brought  upon  yourself. 

Victorine 

I  am  weak,  and  my  head  whirls.  I  do  not  under 
stand  all  that  has  been  going  on.  I  have  done  great 
wrong,  and  I  ought  to  be  punished.  They  have 
told  a  great  many  things,  I  have  been  bitterly  hurt 
while  listening  to  them.  Why  do  you  wish  a  repe 
tition  from  me? 


54  THE  JUDGE 

Countess 
She  confesses  her  guilt.    What  need  we  more  ? 

Berger 

She  will  speak  for  herself  in  a  moment.  We  have 
letters  to  dispute  the  charges  of  premeditated  plot 
ting;  we  need  also  very  much  to  hear  from  the 
peasant  woman. 

Count  Henry 
And  you  need  to  hear  from  me. 

Brigitta 

Stand  up,  child,  and  tell  your  story.  The  Judge 
looks  upon  you  mildly  and  generously. 

Von  Sendlingen 

Did  you  plot  against  the  peace  of  this  noble 
family  ? 

Victor  me 

(Starting  as  if  awakening.)  Did  I  plot  against 
anyone?  Who  was  I  to  think  of  plots?  I  thought 
but  of  my  young  charges,  they  were  sweet  and  good, 
and  it  was  a  pleasure  to'  be  with  them.  I  was  then 
but  a  mere  girl,  I  had  lived  only  in  the  seclusion 
of  the  school  where  my  mother  had  placed  me. 
When  she  died,  it  was  necessary  for  me  to  do  some 
thing  for  myself.  What  knowledge  had  I  of  men 
and  the  world?  The  brilliant  life  in  the  great 
house  was  such  a  change  to  me.  I  did  not  feel  my 
self  at  home  in  it,  the  Countess  was  cold  and  im 
perious,  and  Miss  Brandes  told  me  about  doing  things 
which  I  did  not  approve,  saying  one  thing  and 
meaning  another.  I  was  bewildered  with  it  all. 
Marianna  Brandes 

Shameless  creature!    Protect  me,  Countess!  (She 


ACT  II  55 

covers  her  face  with  her  handkerchief  and  seems  to 
be  weeping.) 

Victorine 

I  had  been  warned  about  the  way  of  life  in  great 
families,  but  I  had  forgotten  at  first.  At  last,  I 
thought  that  I  saw  through  it  all,  and  began  to 
be  more  myself,  and  stronger.  Then  the  Count 
came — and  then — 

Berger 

Do  not  falter.  We  listen  to  you  very  attentively, 
Every  word  you  utter  is  important. 

Victorine 

The  Count  came,  the  house  was  always  full  oi 
guests,  he  seemed  tired  of  the  life  which  only  feebly 
aped  the  life  he  had  been  living  in  Paris,  we  were 
then  thrown  much  together.  Spare  me  additional 
details;  you  know  it  all  as  well  as  I  can  tell  it. 

Von  Sendlingen 

Much  depends  upon  the  story  as  it  comes  from 
your  lips.  Did  the  Count  promise  you  marriage  ? 

Victorine 

Yes,  yes ;  he  has  my  mother's  ring,  and  I  have  the 
one  he  gave  me.  (She  shows  upon  her  finger  a 
quaint  circlet  set  with  alternate  small  diamonds  and 
pearls. ) 

Countess 

An  heirloom  in  our  family.  It  must  be  restored 
to  us. 

Count  Henry 
I  promised  her  marriage,  your  Honor. 

Von   Werner 
(In    his   usual  prompous   manner.)      This   must 


56  THE  JUDGE 

cease.     If  these  interpolations  recur,  we  must  un 
dertake  another  form  of  examination. 

Von  Sendlingen 
The  accused  will  go  on — 

Victorine 

We  saw  a  great  deal  of  each  other.  Miss  Brandes 
encouraged  me  in  many  ways  to  allow  the  intimacy 
to  take  its  course.  The  Countess  told  me  that  her 
son  was  never  happy  at  home,  and  she  hoped  that  I 
would  not  let  the  time  hang  heavy  on  his  hands. 
Miss  Brandes  assured  me  again  and  again  that 
Heaven  gave  special  privileges  to  the  rich  and  the 
titled,  and  that  it  was  a  duty  to  obey  the  higher 
will. 

Countess 

I  protest  against  all  this. 

Marianna  Brandes 

We  shall  not  be  forsaken.  Let  us  look  to  the 
skies  for  protection.  Shameless  wicked  creature! 

Von  Sendlingen 
We  are  all  attentive  to  your  story. 

Victorine 

I  was  carried  away  in  the  storm.     Ah,  God,  that 
I  should  say  such  things  here,  that  I  should  thus  be 
forced   to   bare   my   inmost   heart   before   strangers, 
and  before  those  who  have  treated  me  cruelly! 
Brigitta 

Strength,  Victorine,  strength! 

Victorine 

(As  if  mastering  herself  with  much  effort.)  Yet 
what  does  it  signify  to  me?  Away  false  modesty 
and  maidenly  reserve!  They  have  been  torn  from 
me  savagely  already.  After  what  I  have  endured, 


ACT  II  57 

these  last  pangs  are  easily  bearable!  I  loved  Count 
Henry  with  all  my  soul.  I  was  young,  I  had  no 
one  to  counsel  me,  the  atmosphere  of  that  house 
was  hot  and  intoxicating.  He  seemed  the  one  gen 
erous  person  there.  I  believed  that  he  loved  me, 
he  promised  to  marry  me,  and — oh,  Heaven,  and  my 
mother  in  Heaven,  forgive  me — I  fell. 
Countess 

We  are  able  to  give  the  particulars  of  your  life 
before  you  came  to  us.  You  were  retained  at  school 
with  the  utmost  difficulty.  The  wildness  was  in 
your  blood  and  very  origin. 

Victorine 

Why  do  you  let  her  insult  me  thus?  I  stand 
here  pleading  for  my  life,  not  that  I  value  it,  take 
it  and  take  it  quickly,  and  release  me  from  the 
scorn  and  agony.  I  have  sinned,  and  I  accept  ig 
nominy  and  death  for  my  punishment,  but  I  am 
not  the  only  one  to  blame.  I  did  not  sin  alone, 
must  the  woman  always  expiate  alone?  And  save 
me  from  those  women,  they  are  blacker  than  the 
storm  and  wickeder  than  night! 
Countess 

Who  will  listen  to  your  ravings  or  your  accusa 
tions?  Such  women  as  you  must  suffer  alone.  What 
pity  or  consideration  have  you  the  right  to  ask? 
Crime  and  intrigue  lead  to  the  gutter  and  the  scaf 
fold. 

Victorine 

Oh,  God,  I  thought  that  I  had  patience  to  the 
end.  I  had  brought  myself  to  believe  that  I  should 
soon  be  out  of  the  whirl  of  sorrow  and  at  peace, 
but  the  whole  affair  sweeps  back  into  my  brain. 


58  THE  JUDGE 

Why  should  I  suffer  alone?  Punish  her,  the  de 
ceiver,  the  procuress,  punish  him,  the  stately  man 
of  the  world,  who  breaks  hearts  for  his  pastime! 
Are  there  two  Justices  in  this  world,  one  for  the 
poor,  and  another  for  the  rich?  One  for  the  wo 
man  and  another  for  the  man?  Have  I  not  borne 
the  heat  of  exposure  shrivelling  and  devouring  me  f 
Shall  she  go  on  to  catch  more  maidens  in  her  net? 
Shall  he  walk  free  to  indulge  his  passions  again 
and  again?  I  am  poor  and  friendless,  he  is  rich, 
and  his  haughty  mother  laughs  at  these  boyish 
escapades.  There  must  be  right  somewhere,  the 
same  for  high  and  low,  the  same  for  man  and  wo 
man.  Why  is  not  she  arraigned  as  well  as  I  ? 
Why  is  he  not  at  my  side? 

Count  Henry 

(Impetuously.)  I  am  at  your  side!  I  am  ready 
to  walk  into  the  cell  with  you!  I  am  shamed  be 
yond  measure,  I  am  broken  and  overcome.  I  would 
take  upon  myself  all  that  they  can  inflict  upon  us 
both.  What  you  have  endured  is  far  too 
much.  You  should  pass  hence,  free  as  the  air,  with 
out  a  stain,  and  it  is  I  who  should  suffer  for  my 
wife — my  wife  in  the  sight  of  Heaven,  and  I  swear 
it  in  the  sight  of  man,  if  I  can  but  bring  it  to  pass. 
Von  Werner 

( The  pedantic  tone  to  be  maintained  in  this 
speech.}  This  is  unprecedented.  Silence.  We  may 
be  obliged  to  call  upon  the  guard.  This  is  scandal 
ous.  We  must  follow  the  proper  course  of  the  in 
vestigation. 

Dr.  Rohn 

I  beg  leave  to  interfere.     We  had  reason  to  ex- 


ACT  II  59 

pect  some  such  wilful  exhibition  on  the  part  of  the 
Count.  I  must  ask  that  he  be  removed  and  placed 
in  custody.  I  am  ready  to  show  that  for  some  time 
his  mind  has  been  giving  way.  It  is  for  this  very 
cause  that  he  was  brought  home  from  Paris.  His 
talk  is  the  wildest  insanity. 

C  omit  ess 

Let  me  go,  I  cannot  stay  longer. 
Marianna 

Angels  and  ministers  of  grace  look  down  upon  us. 
Von   Werner 

(Throughout  with  forced  voice  and  extravagant 
gesticulation.}  There  must  be  order  in  the  Court. 
The  self  accusations  of  the  Count  signify  nothing. 
He  is  not  now  on  trial  nor  is  it  our  business  to  look 
into  his  lightness  of  mind.  We  must  allow  the 
witness  to  go  on.  But  let  all  see  to  it  that  wre  are 
not  again  disturbed.  You  agree  with  me?  (To 
Von  Sendlingen.) 

Von  Sendlingen 

We  must  hear  your  story  through,  Victorine 
Lippert. 

Victorine 

What  more  have  I  to  tell?  It  is  soon  finished. 
They  became  furious  with  me.  I  feared  for  my 
life  and  the  life  of  my  child.  I  was  wretchedly  ill, 
maddened,  beside  myself.  The  Count  disappeared. 
They  told  me  that  he  had  gone  to  England  to  be 
wedded  to  some  one  in  his  own  rank  in  life — what 
do  men  mean  by  rank  in  life? 

Count  Henry 
Poor  girl ! 


60  THE  JUDGE 

Victorine 

They  drove  me  from  the  house,  ailing  as  I  was, 
drove  me  forth  with  scorn,  with  savage  insults.  They 
would  not  let  me  clothe  myself  properly.  I  had  but 
an  old  shawl,  worn  and  small,  for  my  head,  and 
nothing  to  wrap  around  me.  Thinly  clad  as  I  was, 
they  forced  me  out  into  the  night  and  storm.  They 
told  me  to  betake  myself  to  the  first  muck-heap,  and 
bring  my  brat  into  the  world  there.  The  night  was 
fearful.  The  winds  were  howling,  and  a  wet  snow 
was  falling.  Not  a  light  anywhere.  Some  instinct 
led  me  to  the  wood.  I  found  a  place  a  little  dryer 
than  the  rest.  I  fell  down  in  frightful  agony.  I  be 
came  wild,  delirious.  Then  I  knew  nothing  at 
all.  When  I  opened  my  eyes,  I  found  a  woman 
and  Miss  Brandes  beside  me.  They  put  the  dead 
boy  in  my  arms.  If  there  were  any  finger  marks  on 
his  neck,  I  know  nothing  of  them.  I  cannot  tell 
what  happened  in  that  night.  I  only  know  that  I 
wanted  to  die  and  take  my  baby  with  me.  Oh,  your 
Honor,  do  you  think  that  I  could  have  hurt  my 
little  baby;  I  am  guiltless  of  that! 

Countess 

Who  will  believe  this  trumped-up  story,  and  from 
her  whose  mother — 

Victorine 

My  mother !  She  is  a  saint  in  Heaven.  She  looks 
down  in  pity  on  her  child.  I  shall  go  to  her  soon,  and 
she  will  fold  me  in  her  arms,  and  I  shall  forget,  and 
oeace  will  be  mine  once  more. 

Countess 

Her  mother!     That  person  set  her  daughter  a 


ACT  II  61 

worthy  example.     What  could  one  expect  in  the 
child?    The  mother  before  her  was  a  wanton. 
Victorine 

That  is  a  lie — a  base  lie — an  infamous  lie — my 
mother  is  a  saint  in  Heaven!  Yes,  I  have  told  you 
all.  I  am  ready  to  die,  if  you  judge  me  to  that. 
What  men  may  think  of  me,  a  dying  woman,  has 
little  import  to  me.  God  knows  the  truth.  He 
knows  that  my  story  is  true;  I  make  no  defense; 
but  here  in  the  very  presence  of  death,  it  may  be,  I 
say  that  my  mother  was  good  and  pure ;  never  was  a 
mother  better,  never  a  woman  purer.  She  trusted  a 
villain  in  the  form  of  a  human  being — and  he  must 
have  been  the  worst  of  men  to  have  abandoned  her — 
but  she  was  noble.  I  ask  nothing  for  myself,  but 
blame  her  not  because  I  am  unworthy.  (Bursts  into 
violent  and  hysteric  weeping.) 

Count  Henry 

Let  me  be  heard  in  her  behalf.  Let  me  have  an 
opportunity  to  corroborate  her  story,  even  though 
it  tear  me  forever  from  those  that  I  love  and  honor 
yet  in  spite  of  all. 

Von  Sendlingen 

Look  at  the  accused!  Terrible  indeed  it  is  to 
hear  her. 

(Throughout  the  act  Von  Sendlingen  has  shown 
by  face  and  gestures  his  extraordinary  interest  in  the 
accused,  and  at  this  point  his  excitement  and  agita 
tion  are  most  marked.) 

Von   Werner 

(In  his  exaggerated  manner.)  We  must  ad 
journ  this  court.  Nothing  useful  can  be  gained  by 
prolonging  these  disgraceful  scenes. 


62  THE  JUDGE 

Count  Henry 
Will  you  not  listen  to  me? 

Von    Sendlingen 
It  is  best  to  adjourn.     (In  a  choking  voice.) 

Von   Werner 

(Assuming  fully  the  airs  of  the  sole  master.}  Lead 
away  the  prisoner. 

(While  they  are  doing  so,  Count  Henry  crosses 
the  stage,  and  seizes  Victorine  by  the  hand.  She 
allows  him  to  take  it,  and  they  gaze  each  into  the 
other  s  eyes  a  moment.  The  guard  steps  in  between 
and  Count  Henry  passes  out  rapidly.) 

Von   Werner 

The  examination  is  closed.  I  am  afraid  but 
little  of  value  has  come  from  it,  but  such  use  as  can 
be  made  of  it  will  be  done. 

Countess 
(To  Dr.  Rohn.)     Look  after  Henry. 

Dr.  Rohn 
He  has  gone  already. 

Countess 

May  I  ask  assistance  in  taking  my  son  into 
proper  custody,  so  that  he  may  not  in  his  folly  injure 
himself  ? 

Von  Werner 

(A  little  more  in  a  normal  manner,  but  stiffly 
and  with  command.)  Such  help  as  we  can  give  is  as 
a  matter  of  course  yours. 

(Countess,  Marianna  and  Dr.  Rohn  leave  the 
room.)  What  is  the  trouble,  Von  Sendlingen? 
Arouse  yourself.  You  have  been  behaving  strangely 
during  most  of  the  examination,  and  I  saw  that  you 


ACT  II  63 

were  far  from  recovered  from  your  recent  illness. 
It  was  therefore  that  I  took  so  much  upon  myself. 

Von    Sendlingen 
I  owe  you  great  thanks. 

Dernegg 
You  appoint  the  trial  for  two  weeks  from  today: 

Von  Werner 

(Learnedly,  and  with  the  judicial  mien.)  I  do 
not  see  any  reason  for  delay.  No  attention  can  be 
given  to  the  wild  ravings  of  Count  Henry.  The 
young  man's  conscience  is  aroused,  an  unusual  fact 
among  his  class.  He  must  be  looked  after  and  pro 
tected.  His  very  remorse  shows  him  to  be  the  more 
worthy  of  it.  The  indiscretions  of  youth  must  not 
wholly  cloud  his  future.  The  testimony  of  Miss 
Brandes  and  the  village  woman  is  clear  as  to  the 
guilt  of  the  Lippert  girl.  Things  are  very  wrong  in 
our  world  today,  and  we  must  not  be  too  lenient. 
The  Minister  of  Justice  urges  seventy  in  cases  of 
this  kind. 

Dernegg 
Will  the  Baron  preside  at  the  trial? 

Berger 
Von  Sendlingen — 

Von  Sendlingen 
No,  I  am  not  well,  Von  Werner  will  do  so. 

Von   Werner 

(With  ill-concealed  pleasure.}  I  wish  you  an 
early  improvement.  (Von  Werner  and  Dernegg 
pass  out.} 

Berger 

What  have  you  done?  Placed  the  fate  of  your 
innocent  child  in  the  hands  of  that  unthinking  man! 


64  THE  JUDGE 

Von  Sendlingen 

I  could  not  do  otherwise.  I  am  a  Judge  as  well 
as  a  father. 

Berger 

What  a  tragedy  is  all  this!  The  good  and  noble 
are  the  ones  who  suffer  in  it  all !  Were  you  willing 
to  swerve  from  the  prescribed  path,  what  might  you 
not  gain  ? 

Von  Sendlingen 
Do  you  advise  me  to  that? 

Berger 

No,  but  why  should  things  be  thus?  Can 
\ve  not  find  something  to  do?  Does  not  a  solution 
of  this  grief  and  difficulty  exist,  or  are  we  greater 
and  gentler  in  our  thought  than  is  the  destiny  which 
prevades  the  world? 

Von  Sendlingen 

There  are  two  worlds,  George,  the  world  of 
fate,  and  the  world  of  will.  They  do  not  neces 
sarily  coincide.  When  this  is  the  case,  our  wills 
may  interfere  and  set  affairs  to  rights,  but  if  in  so 
doing  we  offend  against  the  purposes  of  fate,  we 
must  endure  the  consequences,  whatever  they  may 
be. 

Berger 

Are  law  and  right  always  coincident? 

Von  Sendlingen 
Perhaps   not. 

Berger 

You  refuse  to  take  upon  yourself  the  presiding 
at  the  trial  because  a  father  should  not  intervene 
in  a  case  affecting  his  daughter;  but  you  place  the 
trial  in  charge  of  a  man  who  is  sure  to  give  prcce- 


ACT  II  65 

cfency  to  the  formal  and  technical.  Have  you  the 
right  to  injure  the  right  in  the  interest  of  the  merely 
legal?  Do  you  not  thus  enact  a  greater  wrong  by 
being  true  to  the  law,  and  bitterly  false  to  the  just 
and  right? 

Von  Sendlingen 
I  will  find  a  way  out  of  the  maze. 

Berger 
What  do  you  mean? 

Von  Sendlingen 

Would  that  the  hour  might  be  spared  me  that 
will  solve  for  you  this  riddle.  You  will  some  day 
echo  the  wrish  from  your  innermost  heart,  dear 
friend.  Meanwhile  a  thousand  thanks  and  good 
day. 

(Berger  leaves.  Von  Sendlingen  goes  to  his  desk, 
unlocks  a  drawer,  and  takes  out  the  rusted  bunch 
of  keys.  He  selects  a  small  one,  and  looks  at  it 
intently.) 

Von  Sendlingen 

I  hold  the  key,  indeed,  and  I  shall  not  hesitate  to 
use  it  when  there  is  need. 

The  Curtain  Falls 


ACT  III 

SCENE. — The  library  of  Von  Sendlingen  as 
before.  On  the  wall  hangs  a  new  and  superb  por 
trait  of  the  Judge  in  his  Judge's  robes.  It  is 
evening  and  the  room  is  brilliantly  lighted.  Three 
months  have  passed. 

Brigitta   enters   leading    Victorine. 
Brigitta 

How  firm  and  strong  and  noble  you  were  at  the 
trial ! 

Victorine 

I  had  learned  wisdom  at  my  former  ordeal. 
What  a  life  has  been  mine!  All  other  people  seem 
able  to  give  expression  to  their  thoughts  and  feel 
ings,  and  friends  hang  upon  their  words,  and  en 
courage  them  with  smiles  to  reveal  what  is  going  on 
within  them.  I,  however,  am  forever  thrust  back 
upon  myself.  When  I  claim  the  usual  rights  of 
everyone  born  into  the  world,  I  must  at  once  suffer 
the  direct  punishment.  Do  you  suppose  it  will 
be  different  up  there?  After  I  have  gone  through 
the  chill  and  murky  avenue  which  leads  through 
death  to  light?  Up  there  in  the  silver  realms  of 
peace,  where  my  mother  is  waiting  for  me? 
Brigitta 

(Stroking  her  hair,  and  gazing  at  her  fondly,} 
Child,  it  is  indeed  a  strange  and  dreary  night 
which  engirds  you,  but  I  know  that  the  bitterest 
part  of  it  is  past,  and  I  see  the  quivering  of  morn 
ing  across  the  apparently  moveless  blackness.  Take 
66 


ACT  III  67 

heart,  and  do  not  sink  from  the  height  of  simple 
courage  on  which  you  stood  to  the  admiration  of 
every  one. 

Victorine 

The  morning  comes,  a  flood  of  radiance,  a  morn 
ing  of  forgiveness,  a  radiance  of  consolation,  over 
there,  on  the  other  side  of  the  dark  waves,  which 
I  so  long  to  cross.  Ah  me!  Why  is  young  life 
so  strong?  I  have  had  enough  to  break  a  dozen 
lives.  But  where  is  Count  Henry?  I  have  not 
dared  to  ask  that  question  before,  although  it  has 
been  constantly  on  my  lips.  I  had  nearly  died 
when  he  abandoned  me,  his  sudden  return  was  an 
unspeakable  uplift.  Has  he  again  deserted  me? 
His  mother  has  won  him  away  from  me? 
Brigitta 

No,   indeed.      He  has   left  his   great  home,   and 
all   their  efforts  to  find  him  have  been  unavailing. 
Vic  tor  ins 

Shall   I  see  him  again? 

Brigitta 

Yes,  you  shall  certainly  see  him  again. 
Victorine 

Rut  why  am  I  here?  Why  did  you  come  in  that 
mysterious  way  to  my  cell,  and  lead  me  forth 
through  the  prison  yard,  and  that  small  scarce-seen 
gate  in  the  wall?  WThat  do  you  want  with  me,  a 
Girl  condemned  to  death  for  a  heinous  crime? 
Brigitta 

You  were  wrongfully  condemned.  The  good 
Judge  felt  that  a  condemnation  produced  by  Von 
Werner,  the  pedant,  could  not  be  right.  I  am  not 
versed  in  such  affairs,  but  the  letter  of  the  law  has 
been  too  strictly  followed. 


68  THE  JUDGE 

Victorine 

What  then?  What  comes  of  that?  And  this 
strange  release?  This  taking  me  out  of  my  prison? 

Brigitta 

The  good  Judge  has  desired  it.  Appeals  of  all 
sorts  to  all  sorts  of  courts  have  been  made  in  your 
favor.  Unfortunately  they  failed.  The  Minister 
of  Justice  has  decided  against  you. 

Victorine 
All  this  has  been  done  for  me?    And  wherefore? 

Brigitta 

In  the  interest  of  justice,  and  now  the  good  Judge 

wishes  to  see  you  and  you  have  been  brought  here. 

Fictorine 

He  is  coining  to  see  me?     Oh,  I  remember  him. 

He  was  so  mild  and  full  of  sympathy  for  me.    I  had 

a  strange  and  unaccountable  feeling  as  I  looked  at 

him.     Had  I  ever  seen  him  before,  do  you  suppose? 

Brigitta 

He  has  taken  your  misfortunes  very  much  to 
heart.  All  the  world  knows  him  and  loves  him  and 
honors  him.  Speak  to  him  freely,  he  can  be  of 
much  assistance  to  you. 

Victorine 

Let  it  be  over,  as  soon  as  it  may  be.  I  only  ask 
that  his  may  be  my  last  visit — save  yours,  Brigitta, 
do  not  let  me  lose  you.  I  cannot  endure  any  more. 
I  shall  evade  their  penalty.  Death  will  come  to  me 
soon ;  long  before  that  fearful  day  arrives.  I  would 
much  prefer  to  be  alone,  to  make  my  peace  with 
everything,  and  then  to  suffer  no  interruption.  The 
good  minister  I  can  see  and  hear,  he  always  leaves 
me  calmer.  You  will  pardon  all  this,  and  receive 


ACT  III  69 

such  sincere  and  profound  thanks  as  a  poor  girl  like 
me  can  offer.  Let  the  Baron  come  now,  and  then 
let  me  prepare  for  the  end,  which  is  not  far  off. 
(Throwing  her  arms  around  Brigitta.)  You  will 
stay  with  me  during  this  interview,  you  must  stay 
with  me. 

Bright  a 

I  believe  that  the  Baron  wishes  to  see  you  alone. 
He  will  be  very  kind  to  you  and  he  has  much  to 
say  to  you. 

(Von  Sendlingen  appears  at  the  door.)      Thert 
now.      (Kisses  her.)      Open   up   all  your  heart   to 
him.      (Embraces  her  again  and  passes  out.) 
Von  Sendlingen 

You  are  feeling  much  stronger,  I  hope,  this  morn 
ing. 

Victorine 

I  cannot  echo  that  hope.  I  gladly  find  that  I  am 
getting  weaker  every  hour.  It  will  be  over  soon; 
I  shall  need  no  one's  care  very  long;  and  I  shall 
escape  that — that  last  horror. 

Von  Sendlingen 

My  poor  child,  I  know.  But  you  are  young, 
you  must  not  lose  hope.  Heaven  will  interfere 
in  your  behalf. 

Victorine 

Heaven  indeed.  How  long  is  it  since  Heaven 
took  any  care  of  the  poor  and  miserable?  Why 
bring  into  my  mind  the  thought  of  pardon?  That 
would  be  terrible.  How  should  I  re-enter  life? 
It  has  neither  need  nor  desire  for  women  like  me; 
but  my  agony  will  not  be  very  long  now.  I  shall 
leave  this  cell  to  rest  in  death. 


7o  THE  JUDGE 

Von  Sendlingen 

Surely  the  physician  has  given  you  no  such  intima 
tion. 

V  ic  tor  in  e 

No  one  is  to  be  blamed.  I  read  it  plainly  enough 
in  his  face  and  eyes  and  unwillingness  to  answer  my 
questions.  Then  the  Minister  with  his  many  pre 
cepts  and  warnings — 

Von  Sendlingen 

Poor  child,  they  have  not  been  torturing  you  with 
their  zealous  anxieties  for  your  spiritual  welfare? 
Victorme 

Oh,  no.  With  the  abandonment  of  my  moth 
er  in  my  memory,  and  my  own  fate  before  my  eyes, 
it  is  hard  to  believe  in  a  just  and  merciful  power  that 
rules  the  world  and  men.  The  good  minister  gives 
me  such  consolation  as  he  can,  but  it  is  not  by  him 
that  I  am  helped.  I  believe  that  there  will  be 
recovery  somehow,  somewhere,  from  all  these  ills. 
There  was  one  thing,  however,  that  the  minister 
asked  me,  and  he  came  back  to  it  again  and  again, 
although  I  could  give  him  but  one  answer.  It  tor 
ments  me  yet  to  think  of  it. 

Von  Sendlingen 

What  may  that  have  been,  my  child? 
Victorine 

You  ask  me  about  it,  too.  I  cannot  tell  why  I 
speak  so  freely  to  you.  Yet  I  saw  from  the  first 
that  you  meant  to  be  kind  to  me.  You  were  so 
different  from  the  severe  judge,  who  frowned  upon 
me  down  from  his  great  height  of  goodness.  Then 
I  am  a  poor  dying  girl,  and  you  are  older  and  gentle 
and  wise. 


ACT  III  71 

Von  Sendlingen 

I  do  not  wish  you  to  give  yourself  any  needless 
anguish,  but  tell  me  what  was  it  that  the  minister 
asked  of  you? 

Victorine 

He  asked  me  whether  there  was  any  one  to  whom 
I  cared  to  send  a  message,  any  friend  that  thought 
much  of  me,  and  I  told  him  there  was  none. 

Von  Sendlingen 
Not  one? 

Victorine 

Oh,  Count  Henry,  I  suppose  that  I  shall  never 
see  him  again.  Besides  his  mother  says  he  is  not 
well.  The  minister,  though,  persisted  in  asking 
me  questions,  and  spoke  to  me  of  my — my  father. 

Von  Sendlingen 
And  what  did  you  answer  him  ? 

Victorine 

He  wished  me  to  say  that  I  forgave  him.  I 
must  be  in  the  right  spirit  before  I  enter  Eternity: 
what  answer  could  I  give  him?  I  told  him  that  I 
did  not  know  who  my  father  was,  my  mother  al 
ways  refused  to  mention  the  name,  and  I  further 
told  him  that  I  scorned  my  father,  that  my  misfor 
tunes  were  made  by  my  father,  that  I  might  pity,  but 
should  never  be  able  to  forgive  my  father. 

Von  Sendlingen 

My  child,  do  not  forget  the  shadow  in  which 
we  are  standing.  Say  no  bitter  words.  They 
cannot  have  a  real  place  in  your  heart.  What  do 
you  know  of  this  man?  Perhaps  he  was  true  and 
sore-beset  and  forced  by  the  bitterest  of  circum- 


72  THE  JUDGE 

stances  to  the  course  which  it  may  have  been  a  very 
living  death  for  him  to  take. 
Viet  or  me 

I  know  him;  I  need  not  have  seen  him  for  that. 
I  understand  his  character,  his  high  and  noble  name, 
his  circumstances,  his  career  that  faithfulness  to  my 
mother  would  have  interfered  with.  I  know  him 
from  the  lips  of  my  mother,  the  saintliest  and  purest 
of  women.  Once  only  she  spoke  to  me,  "Had 
he  been  of  light  and  frivolous  mind,"  she  said,  "I 
might  have  forgiven  him;  had  he  been  one  of  the 
mere  pleasure-loving  crew,  I  might  have  blamed 
my  own  folly  and  overlooked  his  sin,  but  he  was 
strong  and  earnest  and  thoughtful.  Life  to  him 
was  no  mere  game  to  be  played  lightly;  young  as 
he  was,  he  had  penetrated  somewhat  into  its  mean- 
ing.  His  abandonment  of  me  was,  therefore,  no 
mere  impulse  of  the  moment;  it  was  the  cool  calcu 
lating  decision  of  one  who  took  into  account  all 
points  of  view.  He  left  me  because  I  should  havt; 
been  a  hindrance  to  his  success."  So  she  spoke  to 
me,  and  what  am  I  to  think  of  him?  Her  death— 
and  my  murder — be  upon  his  head !  May  he  meet 
the  full  reward  of  his  deed !  I  only  dare  not  say 
that  I  hate  his  very  memory. 

Von  Sendlingen 

Unsay  that  word!  You  are  not  aware  of  the 
wrong  that  you  are  doing.  There  is  much  to  be 
told  you,  and  many  extenuating  circumstances  to  bt 
unfolded  to  you.  Do  not  be  wrathful.  He  has 
suffered  even  as  you  and  your  mother  have  suffered. 
He  would  make  expiation  by  all  ways  that  lie  in  his 
power.  Name,  rank,  fortune,  honorable  recogni 
tion  of  genuine  work  done  for  his  fellow-men,  he 


ACT  III  73 

would  give  all  to  learn  that  in  some  way  he  could 
undo  the  miserable  past,  he  could  upbuild  a  dwell 
ing  for  those  he  has  wronged,  he  could  yield  up 
his  life  to  make  atonement. 

Victorine 

Who  authorizes  you  to  say  all  this  to  me?  Have 
you  come  from  him?  Has  he  sent  you  here?  In 
this  hour  to  look  upon  the  last  effect  of  his  act, 
the  last  poisonous  flower  that  has  grown  from  the 
root  of  his  pleasure?  Do  you  know  him?  Why  did 
he  not  come  himself?  My  mother  was  his  lawful 
wife ;  why  did  he  abandon  her  ? 

Von  Sendlingen 

What  have  I  said?  Did  I  tell  you  that  I  knew 
your  father?  I  was  but  constructing  a  possible  case; 
— you  must  be  willing,  child,  to  forgive  as  you 
hope  yourself  to  be  forgiven.  Your  life  has  been, 
indeed,  an  unhappy  one,  but  why  allow  yourself  to 
indulge  in  such  bitterness  of  feeling?  You  have 
made  your  peace,  you  have  pardoned,  you  have  no 
more  hatred  for  any  one;  surely  not  for  him  whose 
punishment  will  be  direful,  I  am  certain,  who 
doubtless  would  be  willing  to  take  your  place  here 
if  he  only  could. 

Victorine 

Ask  me  to  pardon  or  forgive?  Who  has  looked 
on  me  with  mercy  or  kindliness?  What  was  the 
fate  of  my  poor  mother? 

Von  Sendlingen 

Surely  life  holds  nothing  better  than  this,  to  for 
give  injuries,  and  to  pardon  offenses,  however  great. 
As  for  me,  I  would  that  I  might  put  myself  in  your 
place.  I  would  that  I  might  exchange  everything 


74  THE  JUDGE 

with  you,  my  past  with  yours,  my  experiences  with 
yours,  my  joys  and  loves  with  yours.  I  would 
gladly  assume  all,  have  suffered  all,  be  weighed 
down  with  all,  rather  than  stand  where  I  do  now. 

Vic  tor  me 

These  are  empty  words.  Why  do  you  come  here 
to  torment  me  with  these  strange  and  inexplicable 
speeches? 

Von  Sendlmgen 

I  pray  you  will  pardon  me.  You  cannot  think 
me  so  vain  and  cruel  as  to  be  here  without  full  re 
gard  for  your  welfare  and  betterment.  I  know  that 
3rou  are  pure  and  innocent — pure — like  your  mother 
— who  looks  down  upon  you  and  me — who  blesses 
you — and — and — 

Vic  tor  me 

What  can  you  have  known  of  her?  Encircle  me 
as  you  will  with  your  mist  of  words,  but  do  not 
touch  her. 

Von  Sendlmgen 

Listen  to  me.  I  have  hitherto  shrunk  from 
making  myself  entirely  clear.  I  should  have  known 
that  the  simple  truth  is  always  the  best,  always 
gives  help  and  life  and  light.  I  do  know  yom 
father.  I  come  from  him.  I  wish  to  receive  from 
you  the  assurance  that  you  will  not  be  too  harsh 
in  your  view  of  him,  that  you  will  consent  to  see 
him.  His  has  been  no  ignoble  life;  whatever  his 
youthful  sins,  he  has  sought  to  undo  them ;  men 
speak  of  him  in  high  and  endearing  terms. 

Victorine 

I  have  suspected  that  such  was  your  errand.  No, 
I  must  not  see  him.  I  think  that  my  mother  loved 


ACT  III  75 

him  to  the  last,  even  though  she  spoke  bitterly  oi 
him  to  me.  It  was  but  once  that  she  did  so,  and 
then  she  was  overcome  by  illness  and  sorrow.  She 
asked  me  not  to  despise  him,  but  how  could  I  do 
otherwise? 

Von  Sendlingen 

Your  mother  judged  him  aright.  He  left  her 
not  out  of  weakness,  not  out  of  frivolous  disre 
gard  for  deep  and  real  relations,  but  just  as  little 
out  of  cold  and  calculating  consideration  of  worldly 
claims  and  dignities.  He  was  held  by  no  mere 
external  constraint,  but  by  a  deeper  and  more  in 
ward  pressure  of  his  bringing  up,  of  his  convictions, 
of  his  view  of  manhood  and  the  life  around 
him,  in  which  he,  too,  would  have  to  bear  his  part. 

Victorine 

The  part  of  a  rich  and  petted  darling,  the  part  of 
one  of  those  who  have  everything  made  easy  for 
them,  for  whom  all  the  rewards  are  gathered  and 
waiting,  while  we,  my  mother  and  I,  belong  to  the 
unhappy  poor,  who  draw  no  breath  without  hard 
ship,  whose  life  is  a  something  permitted  us  by 
those  needing  us,  and  who  are  to  wear  the  thorny 
crown  of  shame  and  destruction  at  the  last.  No 
one  with  a  heart  ever  made  this  world ;  it  could  only 
have  been  a  God  who  forgot  everything  save  his 
own  pleasure.  Just  as  that  man — my  father — for 
sooth, — did,  fit  scion  of  nobility  and  power; — and 
will  you  explain  to  me  why  he  never  in  the  slight 
est  degree  gave  himself  any  care  about  his  child  ? 

Von  Sendlingen 
He  did  not  know  that  a  child  of  his  was  alive. 


76  THE  JUDGE 

Victorine 

What  is  that  you  say? 

Von  Sendlingen 

Furthermore,  I  can  assure  you,  had  the  knowledge 
come  to  him  by  whatsoever  way  or  accident  that 
you,  his  child,  were  alive  and  struggling  with  the 
bitter  fate  that  here  confronts  us,  he  would  never 
have  rested  until  he  had  drawn  you  to  his  breast, 
until  in  his  home,  in  his  arms,  he  had  shielded  you 
from  every  conflict  with  want  and  wrong  and  the 
hardness  of  men. 

Victorine 

(Gloomily.}  What  have  I  to  do  with  it?  If 
he  is  filled  to  the  brim  with  pain,  it  is  but  his  just 
punishment.  What  have  not  we,  my  mother  and  I, 
borne,  and  all  through  him. 

Von  Sendlingen 

Would  you  not  spare  him  a  single  pang? 
Victorine 

I  do  not  know  how  to  answer  you.  I  wish  no 
one  any  ill,  I  have  not  sunk  so  low  as  that,  not  even 
Marianna,  who  has  lied  about  me  at  this  time  when 
my  life  is  at  stake.  If  he  is  such  a  man  as  you  say 
that  he  is,  he  must  now  be  filled  with  a  remorse  at 
which  I  shudder;  yet  can  his  agony  be  no  greater 
than  mine,  and  my  fault  is  not  measurable  with  his, 
nor  does  he  repent  with  the  sacrifice  of  his  life  and 
his  honor. 

Von  Sendlingen 

Perchance  with  both. 

Victorine 

I  will  not  hear  it!     It  does  not  concern  me! 
I  will  not  have  you  rob  me  of  my  feeling  against 


ACT  III  77 

that  man!     You  ask  me  to  fail  in  justice  to  my 
mother;   he  suffers  as  he  ought,  and  that  is  enough! 

Von  Sendlingen 

You  are  right,  and  you  are  just,  above  all,  just! 
You  are  capable  of  largeness  of  spirit,  you  above  all 
women,  you  can  forgive  this  worst  of  sinners  and 
criminals. 

Victorine 
Did  he  send  you  to  make  this  request  for  him  ? 

Von  Sendlingen 
Will  you  deny  him  even  that  poor  privilege? 

Victorine 

I  deny  him  nothing;  yet  he  might  have  been  sure 
that  I  should  feel  thus  toward  him. 

Von  Sendlingen 

He  did  not  think  that  you  would  be  so  hard  to 
him. 

Victorine 

Did  he  not?  He  thinks,  perhaps,  that  all  will  be 
forgiven  him  because  he  wishes  to  overwhelm  the 
guilty,  the  condemned  woman,  with  the  honor  of  a 
visit.  This  is  the  noble,  the  deep-feeling  man ! 

Von  Sendlingen 
You  wrong  him!     You  wrong  him! 

Victorine 

I  will  not  see  him,  I  cannot  see  him!  Keep  him 
away  from  me! 

Von  Sendlingen 
I  cannot  promise  that. 

Victorine 

This  too  I  must  bear!  It  is  too  much!  I  can 
not  hear  another  word! 


78  THE  JUDGE 

Von  Sendlingen 

His  life,  his  reason,  depends  upon  it! 
Victorine 

I  wish  nobody's  death,   I  wish  nobody's  harm! 
I  would  have  him  live  if  he  yet  cares  to  live!     I 
forgive  him !    Almighty  God  in  Heaven,  strengthen 
me,  I  forgive  him,  but  I  cannot  see  him! 
Von  Sendlingen 

There  is  one  privilege  that  you  can  grant  him. 
You  can  let  him  link  his  fate  with  yours.  You  can 
let  him  enter  into  the  feelings  of  your  heart,  and 
live  with  you  the  breath  which  you  draw.  You 
can  let  him  make  the  sacrifice  which  he  longs  tt, 
make,  to  throw  off  the  adventitious  garb  of  worldly 
successes  which  he  is  clothed  withal,  and  take  upon 
himself  the  toil  which  is  too  much  for  you,  the  toil 
of  restoring  to  you  all  of  which  you  have  been  de 
prived,  and  which  belongs  to  you  of  right,  to  take 
upon  himself  a  father's  real  task,  the  building 
around  you  of  a  world  which  will  enable  you  to 
think  and  act  as  you  ought,  to  overthrow  the  hos 
tility  which  has  met  you  from  the  first,  and  to 
assure  to  you  the  attainment  of  what  your  young 
heart  sees  and  seeks.  Grant  him  this,  Victorine. 
Victorine 

I  want  for  nothing.  I  am  prepared  for  the 
death  that  is  so  close  at  hand. 

Von  Sendlingen 

If  that  dark  hour  should  come,  his  place  is  at  your 
side,  his  hand  should  be  in  yours;  his  right  is  to 
share  every  gloom  which  belongs  to  your  peril,  and 
every  hope  which  accompanies  your  possible  rescue. 


ACT  III  79 

Victorine 

How  you  disturb  and  trouble  me !  Perhaps  what 
you  wish  is  best.  Of  what  avail  are  any  doubts 
or  tumults  of  mine,  the  last  glimmerings  of  thoughts 
and  emotions  which  fleet  through  the  soul  of  a  con 
demned  girl?  I  have  been  very  weak  and  yielding, 
and  my  strength  cannot  resist  any  more;  wronged 
as  I  and  mine  have  been,  trampled  into  the  dust  as 
all  our  most  precious  longings  have  been,  miserable 
as  has  been  the  cup  which  the  world  has  given 
us  to  drink,  I  would  not  add  to  the  horror  of  my 
existence  by  any  needless  harshness  even  to  him. 
Let  it  be  as  you  ask. 

Von  Sendlingen 

God  be  thanked  for  that,  and  you,  my  child,  a 
thousand  times,  you,  my  child,  my  child — 

Victorine 

What  is  this  thought  that  gleams  through  my 
brain — you,  you — 

Von  Sendlingen 
Yes,  Victorine,  I  am  your — 

Victorine 
Father  ?    Father  ? 

Von  Sendlingen 

Come  to  me,  my  daughter,  let  me  clasp  you  in 
these  arms  that  have  so  hungered  to  hold  you.  Let 
my  heart  beating  against  your  heart,  know  itself 
permitted  to  work  for  and  help  you,  Victorine. 

Victorine 

Shelter  and  guardianship  I  need  very  much  from 
the  world,  from  myself,  from  my  memories,  from 
my — father?  father? 


8o  THE  JUDGE 

Von  Sendlingen 

You  are  mine  now  as  you  should  have  been 
always  ? 

Victorine 

Whatever  comes  will  find  me  strong  to  face  and 
endure  it.  Take  comfort  to  yourself,  but,  believe 
me,  I  say  it  with  what  is  almost  my  dying  breath, 
I  am  innocent  except  for  the  misery  of  having 
loved  too  much. 

Von  Sendlingen 

I  know  it,  my  child.  It  is  the  cruel  law,  that, 
having  been  brought  into  existence  to  secure  the 
right,  through  its  own  weakness,  brings  to  pass  the 
bitterest  wrong.  But  it  shall  not  do  it.  I  will 
save  you  though  I  tear  the  fabric  of  the  law  in 
pieces  with  these  very  hands.  My  child,  my  daugh 
ter. 

Victorine 

Father. 

(She  sinks  into  his  outstretched  arms.  He  pas 
sionately  covers  her  face,  her  neck,  her  hair  with 
kisses.) 

Von  Sendlingen 

(Calls.)  Brigitta — Brigitta.  (Brigitta  enters.) 
There  you  are  now.  Go  take  my  daughter  away. 
I  shall  not  have  her  long.  Prepare  her  for  every 
thing.  (Embraces  Victorine.)  There  is  much  to  be 
told  you  and  to  be  arranged.  Come  back  soon, 
Brigitta.  (Victorine  and  Brigitta  pass  out.  The 
Judge  silently  paces  back  and  forth.  In  a  few  mo 
ments,  Brigitta  returns.) 

Brigitta 

There  is  no  one  in  the  house  but  ourselves. 


ACT  III  81 

Von  Sendlingen 

I  must  act  then  quickly.  What  a  thing  is  this 
for  me  to  do,  Brigitta? 

Brigitta 

All  will  come  out  right.  You  are  acting  for  the 
best,  as  always.  She  is  brave  and  firm;  she  is 
resting  now,  and  seems  stronger  than  I  supposed. 
Everything  will  go  well. 

Von  Sendlingen 

I  hope  so, — but  with  me.  (A  knock.  Brigitta 
passes  out  and  returns  with  Berger.) 

Berger 

It  has  stopped  raining  at  last.  You  look  a  lit 
tle  white,  Brigitta.  I  cannot  wonder  at  that.  The 
life  of  so  many  years  is  broken,  and  changes  are 
always  trying.  (Brigitta  bows  to  him  and  leaves.) 
You  are  quite  ready  for  the  evening,  dear  friend,  I 
hope.  I  shall  expect  you  to  stand  firm  tonight  as 
you  have  done  so  long,  and  then  we  will  look  out 
for  the  future. 

Von  Sendlingen 
I  am  thinking  of  that  future. 

Berger 

How  much  you  have  to  endure,  Victor,  and  how 
nobly  you  are  doing  it. 

Von  Sendlingen 

Could  a  more  unfortunate  complication  be 
imagined,  George?  Could  a  more  diabolic  fate  be 
invented  against  any  man?  And  she  is  innocent, 
Marianna  Brandes  perjured  herself. 

Berger 

Yes,  the  death  penalty  could  only  have  been 
brought  about  by  a  Judge  so  narrow  as  Von  Wern 
er.  Then  the  uproar  among  the  people,  the  dread 


82  THE  JUDGE 

of  possible  revolutionary  excesses  among  them,  steels 
the  heart  of  the  Minister  of  Justice,  and  the  final 
appeal  is  denied  save  for  the  granting  of  a  few 
months'  reprieve  to  give  the  sick  girl  a  little  more 
strength. 

Von  Sendlingen 

That  seems  a  piteous  mockery,  does  it  not?  The 
mere  prolongation  of  her  agony;  it  may  turn  out 
very  different  from  the  Minister's  expectations.  In 
spite  of  all  care  of  the  doctor  and  myself,  she  gains 
very  slowly,  and  she  may  slip  through  our  grasp 
at  any  moment. 

Berger 

A  consummation,  perhaps,  devoutly  to  be  prayed 
for. 

Von  Sendlingen 

No,  that  would  be  the  last  verge  of  cruelty;  an 
innocent  woman  should  be  saved. 

Berger 
Fortunately  there  is  yet  time.     The  emperor — 

Von  Sendlingen 

The  emperor?  Do  you  forget  the  terrible  affair 
of  the  attempted  assassination?  What  can  be  done 
with  the  Emperor  in  his  wounded  and  angered  con 
dition?  That  ruffian's  assault  upon  him  seemed  to 
me  like  a  bolt  of  vengeance  from  the  very  heavens. 
Just  as  I  was  on  the  point  of  making  a  personal 
appeal,  was  going  to  tell  him  all,  and  intercede  for 
her  and  for  me,  that  villain  wounds  him  as  he  is 
riding  through  the  street.  That  takes  away  the  last 
hope.  Everything  has  been  tried  and  everywhere 
the  same  inexpugnable  opposition  confronts  us.  Now 
my  term  of  office  here  is  ended  and  I  must  be  away 


ACT  III  83 

to  another  city.     It  is  thus  that  one  is  forced  to 
the  last  desperate  act. 

(A  knock.  Brigitta  crosses  the  room,  and  Dern- 
egg  and  Von  Werner  enter.  Brigitta  passes  out 
again  as  she  had  come  in.) 

Von   Werner 

(He  is  elaborately  dressed.  He  is  dignified  to 
the  point  of  absurdity.  He  speaks  with  the  most 
pompous  of  exaggerations.)  It  has  cleared  up  rapid 
ly,  and,  while  the  streets  are  rather  muddy,  yet 
nothing  now  will  interfere  with  the  several  torch 
light  processions.  We  left  one  marshalling  a  short 
distance  below.  (Goes  to  a  glass  to  adjust  his  neck- 
tie.) 

Dernegg 

The  town  has  never  been  so  stirred  to  its  depths. 
You  can  look  upon  the  approval  of  your  life  in 
this  community  as  one  of  the  rewards,  perhaps,  to 
be  expected,  but  none  the  less  gratifying  when  it 
comes.  We  lose  the  best  Judge  in  all  Austria; 
but  your  crowning  career  is  opening  to  you;  your 
promotion  is  another  step  on  the  way,  not  a  long 
one,  to  the  highest  place  of  all. 

Von  Sendlingen 

You  are  both  of  you  very  kind  as  is  also  my  good 
Berger  to  come  so  early,  and  give  me  the  honor  of 
your  company  to  the  hotel,  where  the  processions 
are  to  be  viewed,  and  afterward  the  banquet  occurs. 
And  now  I  recall  another  matter,  George,  did  you 
engage  a  room  for  me?  I  shall  need  some  change 
of  dress  after  the  banquet,  if  I  take  the  late  train 
for  Vienna. 


84  THE  JUDGE 

Berger 

All  has  been  seen  to;  I  have  engaged  for  you  the 
small  room  which  you  have  had  before.  The  ho- 
telkeeper  told  me  that  it  was  the  one  which  you 
always  used.  It  has  a  door  opening  on  an  inner 
staircase  and  a  hallway  but  little  traversed,  so  that 
you  can  make  your  final  escape  to  your  carriage  with 
out  encountering  any  interruptions. 
Von  Sendlingen 

Yes,  that  is  right.  There  are  always  on  these 
occasions  so  many  farewells  to  be  said,  that  one 
never  knows  when  he  can  tear  himself  loose  from 
them,  and  I  must  on  no  account  fail  to  make  my 
train  tonight. 

Berger 

Is  it  not  about  time  for  us  to  go? 
Dernegg 

There  is  no  need  of  haste.  The  Judge  looks 
tired,  and  not  very  wTell.  Surely  you  have  recov 
ered  your  health  fully? 

Von  Sendlingen 

I  am  afraid  not,  and  I  imagine  that  I  never  shall. 
The  trouble  is  a  serious  one.  The  physicians  seem 
little  able  to  reach  it,  and  I  allow  for  that  reason 
no  new  ambitions  to  enter  my  mind;  who  knows 
when  the  end  may  come?  It  is  nearer  than  any  of 
us  thinks. 

(Shouts  are  heard  outside  gradually  coming  near- 
er.) 

Dernegg 

That  is  the  band  of  workingmen,  headed  by  John 
Novyrok;  they  are  coming  here,  I  believe.  They 
wish  to  make  a  presentation  to  the  Baron. 


ACT  III  85 

Dernegg 

Prepare  yourself  for  their  laudations. 

(There  is  a  knock.  Brigitta  appears.  After  a 
pause  Novyrok  comes  with  a  committee  of  working- 
men.  Franz  also  enters  and  stands  at  one  side  with 
Brigitta.  Novyrok  advances:  he  places  on  the  ta 
ble  a  loving  cup.) 

Von  Sendlingen 

You  are  most  welcome,  friends.  This  evening 
would  have  been  lacking  in  one  of  its  most  essential 
features  to  me,  if  I  had  not  met  you  here.  I  have 
endeavored  to  understand  the  point  of  view  from 
which  you  see  things,  and  I  have  sympathized  with 
many  of  your  hopes  and  plans.  The  difficulties  in 
the  way  are  serious  and  manifold,  but  the  light  of 
the  new  and  noble  shines  clearly  upon  you  from 
below  the  horizon.  The  organizations  of  states  and 
societies  have  set  too  much  value  upon  external  and 
adventitious  matters  of  wealth  and  descent.  They 
will  feel  the  gradual  breath  and  life  of  regeneration 
all  through  them,  and  they  will  give  permanent 
effect  to  that  alone,  which  is  of  genuine  worth — the 
achievements  of  the  high  and  just  human  will.  From 
that  standpoint  all  artificial  distinctions  fall  away, 
and  every  man  is  honorable,  and  every  man  is  the 
whole  of  life,  and  the  whole  commonwealth.  We 
must,  however,  have  no  violence,  we  must  let  the 
God  of  History  take  his  own  time,  we  must  watch 
for  the  hints  which  He  gives,  and  set  out  feeble 
hands  to  His  work,  and  we  may  be  sure  that  the 
end  will  surpass  all  human  expectations  and  imag 
inings. 


86  THE  JUDGE 

Novyrok 

We  are  here  to  give  our  thanks  to  you  who  have 
been  to  us  a  friend  in  so  many  ways.  The  good 
God  above,  the  God  of  History,  as  you  finely  call 
him,  seems  sometimes  to  us  to  have  fallen  asleep,  and 
no  doubt  the  work  he  has  to  do  is  very  wearing,  and 
he  needs  rest  like  others,  who  are  always  trying 
to  do  good,  and  are  so  often  failing;  yet  I  do  not 
entirely  agree  with  my  friends,  who  find  unhappi- 
ness  to  be  the  lot  of  the  poor,  and  a  great  joy  to  be 
the  lot  of  the  rich.  Each  has  his  own  sort  of  mis 
ery,  and  neither  is  on  the  road  that  leads  to  what 
is  worth  most  for  all.  We  must  act  for  ourselves, 
for  the  days  when  the  powers  above  stood  ready  to 
help  have  gone  forever.  Yet  you  have  been  a  helper 
to  us,  you  have  not  feared  to  speak  out  what  was  in 
your  heart,  you  have  taken  us  by  the  hand,  and 
brought  us  out  of  many  and  severe  trials.  So  now 
we  are  here  to  give  our  thanks  for  your  many  ser 
vices  to  us. 

Von  Sendlingen 

What  has  been  done,  good  friends,  has  been  too 
little  to  bring  about  much  change  in  your  condition 
for  the  better,  and  such  improvement  is  so  much  to 
be  sought. 

Novyrok 

(Holding  up  the  loving  cup.)  You  see  this 
vessel.  If  you  think  that  it  is  made  of  silver,  you 
are  greatly  mistaken.  It  is  covered  only  with  a  thin 
wash  that  will  wear  off  in  a  very  short  time.  It 
has  cost  very  little  indeed,  and  even  then,  perhaps, 
we  have  paid  more  for  it  than  it  is  worth ;  but  this 
small  sum  has  been  so  divided  that  three  hundred 


ACT  III  87 

workingmen  have  united  in  paying  it,  and  express 
through  this  slight  thing  their  feelings  toward  you. 
If  it  may  be  as  they  wish,  the  bread  which  you  will 
eat  in  the  future  will  be  sweetened  by  the  thought 
of  the  many  to  whom  your  life  has  given  hope  and 
help,  and  the  savor  that  will  be  all  through  your 
meals  will  be  the  memory,  that  many  and  many 
poor  and  troubled  workmen,  at  morn  or  noon  01 
night,  when  they  gather  round  their  tables,  scantily 
served  though  they  be,  will  have  in  their  minds, 
and  arouse  in  the  hearts  of  their  wives  and  children, 
the  thought  that,  whoever  has  deserted  them,  the 
angels  and  the  sleeping  God,  you  have  ever  been 
true  and  just  to  them. 

Von  Sendlingen 

George,  this  is  too  much. 

(Von  Werner  steps  forward,  rubs  his  hands,  and 
gazes  on  the  workingmen  with  immense  sternness. 
Von  Sendlingen  gently  puts  him  aside.} 

Novyrok 

We  know  very  well  what  we  shall  ask  for  you 
in  return  for  what  you  have  done  for  us.  A  happy 
life  and  a  glad  heart  to  you  and  to  all  who  are  dear 
to  you.  Yet  wishes  are  but  weak,  and  we  can  do 
nothing  in  your  behalf  although  each  of  us  would 
give  of  his  blood  and  breath  to  further  you,  and 
prayers  we  find  receive  answers  only  slowly.  There 
fore,  we  can  but  say:  When  you  are  tried,  and  at 
odds  with  the  world,  think  of  us  and  your  soul 
will  grow  lighter.  You  will  say  to  yourself :  I  have 
lifted  these  people  out  of  their  sorrow,  I  have  borne 
for  them  as  much  of  their  burden  as  I  could ;  and 
your  eyes  will  grow  clearer,  and  your  sun  will  cast 


88  THE  JUDGE 

off  the  clouds  that  threaten  to  overwhelm  it.  For 
I  believe  that  this  is  the  truest  comfort  that  anyone 
can  have  in  this  poor  and  mistaken  earth.  Thanks 
from  us  all,  for  you  are  good  and  honorable,  what 
you  do  is  well  done,  and  wrong  cannot  touch  you. 
Thanks  again  and  again. 

Von  Sendlingen 

(Grasping  him  by  the  hand.)  Blessings  upon 
you  and  all  who  toil  and  look  for  the  harvest  that 
is  surely  coming.  I  receive  your  cup  and  shall  al 
ways  prize  it  among  my  chief  possessions,  and  when 
I  drink  from  it  with  my  friends  we  shall  think  of 
you  and  how  to  help  you.  ( The  workingmen  press 
around  Von  Sendlingen  and  shake  hands  with  him 
as  they  pass  out.) 

Von  Sendlingen 

Get  my  coat,  Franz. 

So,  dear  Franz,  you  are  to  have  a  short 
rest  too.  You  will  go  tonight  to  your  friends 
in  the  country.  Well,  I  have  told  you  all 
that  is  necessary;  and  in  about  ten  days  you 
return.  Be  sure  you  take  every  care  of  your 
self,  and  think  of  nothing  except  how  you  are  free 
from  every  obligation  save  the  one  to  be  good  to 
yourself.  For  a  few  days,  my  dear  fellow,  goodby. 
You  have  been  so  near  to  me  for  so  many  years 
that  I  never  know  how  I  can  get  on  without  you 
when  I  am  away  from  you.  Goodby.  And  you 
too,  Brigitta. 

(Shakes  hands  with  both.  The  gentlemen  go 
out.) 

Brigitta 

Every  one  is  doing  his  best  to  honor  him.  The 
great  processions,  the  banquet,  the  speeches,  the  pre- 


ACT  III  89 

scntation  of  this  picture,  the  letters  from  all  over 
the  country,  show  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held. 
The  good  and  much-suffering  man. 
Franz 

Now  there  is  something  that  I  ought  to  know. 
I  have  been  his  man  for  over  twenty  years,  and  he 
talks  about  everything  with  me,  in  the  way  I  like. 
This  time,  though,  he  says  nothing.  He  is  strange 
and  tired.  He  eats  nothing  at  all ;  he  sits  in  his 
chair  and  thinks  and  thinks;  when  I  speak  to  him, 
he  wakes  up  out  of  a  sleep,  as  it  were.  He 
wanders  around  at  night.  Once  I  saw  him  in  the 
yard  looking  for  the  old  door  in  the  wall  next  the 
prison.  It  was  past  twelve  o'clock  and  the  snow 
was  falling.  I  was  ready  for  him.  I  thought  of 
the  time  Mr.  Berger  brought  him  home  half-dead 
and  delirious.  Tell  me,  Brigitta,  what  is  it  anyhow? 
Brlgitta 

You  are  the  best  of  men,  Franz,  and  you  will 
have  a  good  time  in  the  country.  Tonight  you 
know  the  Baron  goes  to  Vienna  on  business  after 
the  great  banquet.  You  have  a  key  to  the  house  so 
that  you  can  get  in  when  you  return. 
Franz 

Yes,  so  it  goes.  Well,  I  see  that  I  am  to  be  left 
out  for  this  time.  It  hurts  me  after  long  service 
to  be  treated  so.  I  must  be  on  my  way.  May  all 
be  well  with  him.  You,  too,  are  going  away  on 
business  of  your  own.  I  shall  not  be  here  for  a  long 
time.  Or  are  you  never  coming  back?  Goodby, 
Brigitta. 

Brigitta 

Goodby,  Franz.  It  will  be  a  long  time  before 
I  shall  see  you  again.  Every  day  we  have  been 


90  THE  JUDGE 

together  for  all  these  years,  and  now  we  are  to 
separate.  Think  well  of  us  all,  dear  Franz.  We 
have  understood  your  devotion  and  loved  you.  (He 
gets  as  far  as  the  door ;  she  calls  him,  and  takes  both 
his  hands.}  Goodby,  Franz,  goodby.  (Franz  leaves. 
She  seats  herself.  A  double  knock — evidently  a 
signal  previously  agreed  on.)  So,  he  has  come. 
(She  hastens  from  the  room,  and  returns  in  a  mo 
ment  with  Count  Henry.) 

Count  Henry 

Everything  is  prepared  and  in  order.  Some 
streets  away  I  have  left  the  carriage  in  an  obscure 
place.  The  night  is  gloomy,  and  the  tumult  in  the 
principal  streets  is  all  in  our  favor.  How  does  she 
bear  it?  Has  she  gained  strength  of  late? 
Brigitta 

She  is  of  the  nature  that  meets  an  emergency  with 
the  power  of  dealing  with  it  that  it  calls  for.  She  is 
frail,  however,  and,  when  we  are  far  away,  she  will 
be  in  some  danger  of  a  relapse.  I  would  we  were 
already  on  the  broad  rolling  ocean. 

Count  Henry 

You  will  be  as  a  mother  to  her,  and  it  cannot  be 
that  after  so  much  suffering  and  hardship,  after  such 
terrible  atonement,  the  heavens  will  not  relent  and 
give  us  some  hours  of  tranquility;  but  bring  her  to 
me.  Let  me  see  her  and  hear  her  speak.  Is  every 
thing  ready  for  the  departure? 

Brigitta 

What  preparations  we  have  been  able  to  make 
are  over.  The  few  belongings  that  we  can  take  with 
us  are  below,  where  we  can  lay  easy  hands  on 


ACT  III  91 

them.  The  Baron  has  arranged  affairs  so  that  he 
can  excuse  himself  from  the  banquet  early — he  is 
very  ill.  He  goes  to  his  private  room,  whence  he 
can  slip  away  unseen,  and  he  will  be  with  us.  No 
one  will  miss  him.  He  returns  to  the  banquet,  and 
from  thence  to  Vienna  by  the  late  train. 
Count  Henry 

Bring  her  at  once,  Brigitta,  bring  her  to  me.  (She 
passes   out  and   returns   in   a   few    moments.      Vic- 
tonne  walks  behind  her  slornly  and  gravely.     She 
is  in  elegant  traveling  attire.) 
Brigitta 

I  have  some  last  things  to  arrange  below,  and  will 
look  out  besides  for  the  Baron.    All  your  wraps  and 
mine,  Victorine,  are  also  there.      (Passes.) 
Count  Henry 

The  hour  has  come  at  last  when  we  can  clasp 
hands,  and  feel  that  no  power  on  earth  or  in  heaven 
can  sunder  us  again.  You  look  grave  and  strange; 
see,  I  am  awaking  out  of  a  slumber,  as  it  were,  that 
has  seemed  like  death.  Outside  it  is  yet  winter,  but 
it  will  not  be  long  before  milder  winds  and  clearing 
skies  will  call  down  into  the  earth,  and  the  life 
teeming  there  will  spring  up  anew  to  greet  the  in 
creasing  sunlight.  For  us,  also,  Victorine,  begins 
a  new  life,  a  new  experience,  a  new  joy. 
Victorine 

I  cannot  yet  wholly  free  myself  from  the  chill 
and  the  gloom  wherein  I  have  been  dwelling.  I 
seem  like  one  riding  in  the  night  along  the  verge  of 
a  viewless  precipice;  down  below  I  hear  the  hoarse 
voice  of  the  stream  dashing  over  the  rocks  and  steeps ; 
behind  me  I  perceive  I  know  not  what  of  danger, 


92  THE  JUDGE 

eager  to  pluck  me  back  into  the  grief  and  doom.  I 
am  strong,  Henry,  and  fear  can  never  again  come 
near  me — how  should  I  fear  after  all  that  I  have 
borne — but  yet  I  would  that  my  part  in  this  play 
were  well  over. 

Count  Henry 

Think  of  the  new  life  that  waits  in  a  new  land, 
under  a  new  and  warmer  sun,  with  new  friends. 
Once  out  of  the  shadow  of  these  horrible  walls,  and 
far  away  from  the  misjudging  people,  we  can  clasp 
hands  more  firmly  than  we  do  now,  look  deeper 
each  into  the  other's  eyes,  and  see  opening  before  us 
the  paths  of  happiness. 

Victorine 

But  the  past  that  will  haunt  me,  the  dread  in 
which  I  may  have  to  live,  the  joyousness  that  seems 
a  dark  flower  plucked  from  the  grave,  and  embody- 
ing  in  strangeness  of  form  and  hue  so  many  tears 
and  sobs  and  sins. 

Count  Henry 

Throw  away  these  evil  fancies  and  bewilderments. 
I  shall  be  at  your  side.  Oh,  forgive  me  that  I  ap 
peared  even  for  a  moment  to  have  been  led  away 
from  you.  You  will  trust  me,  for  every  wrong 
you  have  endured  I  will  see  that  a  delight  comes 
to  fill  up  its  place,  for  every  deed  which  they  say 
you  have  done  and  call  strange  and  mysterious  I 
will  take  it  upon  me  to  make  requital.  The  woman 
shall  not  stand  alone  as  the  vain  and  senseless  world 
has  hitherto  placed  her;  in  the  new  world  we  begin 
the  new  life;  in  joyance  and  certitude  the  man  be 
side  the  woman  who  loves  him,  in  night  and  gloom 
the  man  bearing  the  burden  with  her,  toiling  up  the 


ACT  III  93 

steep  with  her,  catching  from  the  glow  that  shines 
first  in  her  eyes  the  glory  re-arisen  and  replenish 
ing  the  gladdening  air  and  answering  vault  of  the 
heavens. 

Vic  tor  me 
My  lover  and  my  husband! 

Count  Henry 
We  shall  have  joy,  bliss,  heaven. 

Victonne 

No,  we  shall  have  calm,  duty,  forgiveness.  Our 
bond  is  not  wholly  like  that  of  others;  at  least  not 
until  the  benediction  of  a  nobler  inner  life,  and 
generous  deeds  to  all  mankind,  comes  to  us  with 
its  healing  out  of  the  skies.  We  are  to  be  to  each 
other  guides  to  strength  and  purity,  we  must  not 
ask  that  our  steps  shall  be  along  walks  bordered 
with  flowers,  we  must  not  demand  that  the  air  shall 
be  filled  with  perfumes  for  our  delight;  our  meax 
and  drink  shall  be  patience  and  unwearied  well 
doing;  it  shall  be  ours  to  hunt  out  the  oppressed 
and  misguided,  to  bring  solace  where  the  day  wears 
no  smile,  to  join  our  small  power  to  the  force  which 
is  making  man  the  image  and  the  vessel  of  the 
all-renovating  love.  Oh  we  shall  not  ask  for  joy 
nor  ecstasy,  but  for  whatever  comes  with  the  fact 
that  our  hearts  are  pure  and  that  our  hands  are 
held  forth  to  all  who  may  need  them. 

Count  Henry 

I  shall  be  most  myself  when  I  am  with  you 
in  the  doing  of  any  act,  however  small,  that  is  per 
meated  with  this  spirit  which  is  your  inmost  heart 
and  hope.  (Folds  her  in  his  arms.  The  bell  rings 
twice  sharply  and  distinctly.) 


94  THE  JUDGE 

Brigitta 

(Entering.}     He  has  returned.      (Exit  and  in  a 
moment  Von  Sendlingen  appears  with  her.) 
Von  Sendlingen 

You  are  together  at  last.  (Takes  Count  Henry 
by  the  hand,  and  then  embraces  Victorine.)  I 
have  you  only  for  so  short  a  time,  my  daughter; 
I  deserved  better  of  the  world.  I  should  have  had 
the  happiness  of  bringing  you  up,  of  treasuring  your 
early  laughter,  and  your  quaint  baby  fears;  and 
now  that  you  have  come  to  me  through  so  much 
sorrow,  I  must  give  you  up;  but  you  will  think  of 
me  always,  and  well. 

Victorine 

Dear  father,  it  cannot  be  long  before  you  will 
be  with  us? 

Von  Sendlingen 

I  hope  not,  child.     I  shall  resign  that  new  post. 
I  want  no  more  honors  and  dignities.     I  want  only 
rest  and  forgiveness.     But  time  hastens — 
Count  Henry 

Do  not  allow  yourself  to  be  troubled  for  us, 
father,  my  own  precautions  have  been  adequate. 
We  shall  be  rich  in  that  far  land,  that  noble  land 
in  the  southern  seas. 

Von  Sendlingen 

And  you,  Brigitta,  you  shall  not  suffer  for  the 
great  sacrifice  which  you  make  for  mine  and  me. 
Good  Brigitta,  it  is  hard  to  leave  behind  all  the 
associations  which  must  be  so  much  to  you,  and 
I  can  never  thank  you  enough.  You  have  been  a 
noble  friend  to  us  all.  Be  assured  that  no  harm  can 
come  to  you  for  what  you  are  doing,  and  if  our  best 


ACT  III  95 

love  and  care  can  repay  you,  they  shall  be  yours  in 
stintless  abundance. 

Brigitta 

I  ask  for  nothing.  I  have  tried  to  do  what  I 
thought  right.  I  feel  calm  and  strong,  and  the  fu 
ture  does  not  trouble  me. 

Von  Sendlingen 

And  you,  Count  Henry,  can  I  trust  my  child  to 
you? 

Count  Henry 

I  will  care  for  her  as  I  do  for  my  own  soul. 
Von  Sendlingen 

See,  I  have  this  ring.  It  was  given  to  me  by 
your  mother,  Victorine.  It  shall  be  a  symbol  of 
union  between  you,  it  shall  forever  heal  the  breach 
which  has  brought  such  sorrow  and  disaster  into 
so  many  lives.  (He  gives  it  to  Count  Henry,  who 
in  his  turn  places  it  on  Victorine  s  finger.  They 
stand  -with  clasped  hands.)  You  have  been  sorely 
tried,  but  may  the  years  bring  to  you  that  true  en 
joyment  which  comes  from  deep-hearted  allegiance 
to  the  right,  to  man,  and  to  God.  So  all  is  done. 
And  now  we  have  small  time  for  parting  words. 
Good-by,  Brigitta,  best  and  truest  of  friends.  ( They 
shake  hands.  Brigitta  bursts  into  tears  and  goes 
out.)  My  son,  you  have  shown  yourself  a  man, 
whose  like  I  see  not  anywhere.  Be  strong  in  the 
future  as  in  the  past.  My  Victorine,  I  shall  hear 
from  you  soon.  There,  do  not  weep.  These  eyes 
have  shed  too  many  tears  already.  I  can  hardly  bear 
to  let  you  go,  but  it  must  be.  I  shall  hear  from  you 
soon.  There,  take  her,  Henry.  One  more  em 
brace.  God  protect  both  of  you,  farewell,  farewell. 


96  THE  JUDGE 

(They  pass  out,  and  after  a  short  pause  the  shutting 
of  the  door  is  heard.  He  falls  into  a  chair.  The 
rest  is  in  the  manner  of  a  person  speaking  to  himself 
in  a  half  delirium.}  That  is  over.  My  heart  hurts 
terribly.  Great  God,  what  is  this  strange  feeling 
that  comes  over  me  now?  (He  sinks  back  half- 
fainting.)  No,  I  must  arouse  myself,  or  all  will 
be  lost.  So,  I  am  getting  better,  I  feel  relieved. 
(Stands  with  some  difficulty.)  I  will  not  fail  now, 
I  must  return  to  the  banquet.  (Masters  himself 
with  great  effort.)  Now  I  can  go.  (Pauses  be 
fore  the  portrait.)  The  perfect  Judge — what  am  I 
now?  I  shall  atone,  I  shall  atone.  They  shall  re 
member  not  what  I  am,  but  what  I  was,  what  I 
ought  to  be!  (He  prepares  to  put  out  the  lights. 
The  cries  are  heard  again:  "Long  live  the  just 
Judge!  The  perject  Judge."  He  trembles  and 
shrinks  together  with  agony.) 

The    Curtain    Falls 


ACT  IV 

SCENE. — Library  of  Von  Sendlingen.  He  comes 
in  a  dressing  gown,  and  seats  himself.  He  looks 
very  ill,  feeble  and  old.  Two  weeks  have  elapsed. 

Franz 

(Enters  and  places  a  letter  on  the  table.) 
Do  you  need  me? 

Von  Sendlingen 

(Tearing  open  the  envelope  and  reading  raven 
ously.)  No,  not  at  present.  (A  knock.  Franz 
passes  out.  Berger  enters.) 

Berger 

You  are  stronger  today,  Victor,  I  see  it  in  youi 
eyes. 

Von  Sendlingen 

No,  you  are  mistaken ;  I  shall  never  be  any  better. 
Pray  hand  me  that  taper.  Now  light  it  for  me. 
So,  that  is  well.  (He  holds  the  letter  in  the  flame, 
and  watches  it  consume  with  eager  eyes.  Berger 
looks  upon  him  with  inexpressible  wonder  and 
grief.) 

Berger 
You  appear  very  anxious  to  dispose  of  that  trifle. 

Von  Sendlingen 

The  papers  accumulate  so.  I  have  been  burning 
letters  and  dispatches  ever  since  I  returned.  What 
a  rubbish  heap  the  past  builds  up  around  us!  Every 
once  in  awhile  we  must  take  an  account  of  stock, 
and  dispose  of  the  refuse  in  some  way.  This  letter 
97 


98  THE  JUDGE 

tells  me  only  that  all  is  well,  that  a  work  in  which 
I  have  been  engaged  has  succeeded,  that  the  wrong 
will  be  undone,  that  those  who  need  it  will  be  made 
happy  at  last. 

Berger 

Will  you  not  learn  to  let  the  dead  past  bury  its 
dead?  And  yet  it  confronts  us  just  now  with  more 
than  its  usual  vigor.  Has  any  information  arrived? 
Is  there  any  light  on  the  unaccountable  disappear 
ance? 

Von  Sendlingen 

She  has  vanished  as  though  she  had  never  been. 
I  am  left  all  alone  again,  even  my  agony  does  not 
find  it  desirable  to  house  with  me.  I  am  strangely 
free  from  pain  or  anxiety.  But  I  shall  pass  soon, 
and  I  am  not  eager  to  linger  much  longer. 
Berger 

Tut,  tut!     You  expect  Von  Werner  this  morn 
ing?     He  is  wild  with  grief,  such  as  he  can  feel, 
over  the  inauspicious  opening  of  his  term  of  office. 
Von  Sendlingen 

Yes,  he  ought  to  be  here  now.  I  am  sorry  for 
him.  The  strange  man,  whose  limitations  are  so 
apparent,  and  who  in  so  much  is  but  a  half-develop 
ed  child.  I  should  expect  him  to  wail  and  even  tear 
his  hair,  but  he  will  not  suffer  much  longer,  and  it 
is  to  be  hoped  that  he  will  through  this  untoward 
matter  gain  a  little  wisdom,  which  will  be  all  the 
better  for  others  and  for  him. 
Berger 

Victor,  you  terrify  me.  I  am  torn  by  doubts 
and  agitations  that  I  dare  not  express  even  to  my 
self.  Victor,  if  the  ordeal  through  which  you  have 
been  has — 


ACT  IV  9$ 

F^on  Sendlingen 

No,  George,  be  seated  again,  and  do  not  peer  into 
the  outer  darkness  which  only  a  few  ghosts  of  re 
flected  lamplight  illumine.  If  ever  man  had  a 
friend,  true,  tried,  loving,  sacrificing,  I  have  had 
him  in  you.  Trust  me  to  the  end,  it  will  not  be 
long.  (A  knock,  Von  Werner  enters.  He  looks 
forlorn  and  amazed.  He  maintains  his  extravagant 
7,ianner  with  difficulty;  every  now  and  then  he 
breaks  down  and  almost  whimpers,  then  recovers 
himsdf  suddenly,  and  gazes  about  to  see  if  anyone 
has  observed  him.)  Ah,  Von  Werner,  you  are  come 
just  in  the  nick  of  time;  Berger  is  here.  The  pres 
ence  of  both  of  you  is  especially  welcome  this  morn 
ing;  but  where  is  Dernegg? 

Von   Werner 

Important  business  took  him  away  from  the  city. 
(Pauses  and  stares.)      I  hope  you  are  able  to  stand 
the  rigor  of  an  interview?     (Whimpers.) 
Von  Sendlingen 

Vienna  does  not  agree  with  us  old  fellows  any 
more.  Time  was  when  we  could  hold  our  own  with 
anybody,  but  it  is  past. 

Berger 

We  shall  see  you  Minister  of  Justice  yet. 
Von   Werner 

(With  a  terrified  solemnity.)  You  are  aware 
that  the  great  official  has  arrived,  and  that  he  will 
be  here  shortly  to  make  some  interrogatories,  are  you 
not? 

Von  Sendlingen 

The  sooner,  the  better. 


ioo  THE  JUDGE 

Von   Werner 

(Stands  up  as  if  he  would  like  to  go.)  A  post 
ponement  to  the  afternoon  is  possible,  if  you  will  be 
stronger  then. 

Von  Sendlingen 
No,  we  will  get  to  the  end  this  morning. 

Berger 
I  should  advise  this  course. 

Von   Werner 

(Rises  and  strides  about,  groans  and  almost 
weeps.)  Thanks,  thanks.  It  is  a  terrible  misfor 
tune  with  which  I  assume  the  office  so  honored  by 
you.  What  can  I  do  about  it?  You  will  stand  by 
me,  and  keep  any  and  every  reflection  from  my 
good  name?  What  could  I  do  about  the  escape? 
(Lays  hand  on  Von  Sendlingen.) 
Von  Sendlingen 

Nothing,  my  good  friend;  console  yourself;  who 
could  for  a  moment  blame  you?  It  will  all  be 
made  plain  in  due  time,  be  patient.  (A  knock. 
Franz  ushers  in  the  Minister  of  Justice.  The  Min 
ister  seats  himself.) 

Minister 

It  is  a  most  calamitous  circumstance  which  comes 
under  my  observation  here.  Have  you  any  ex 
planations  to  offer? 

Von   Werner 

(Eagerly  and  with  sudden  and  ludicrous  assump 
tion  of  his  old  manner.)  None.  The  whole  afraii 
verges  on  the  miraculous.  The  doors  seem  to  have 
been  opened  from  within,  they  were  locked  again 
after  the  fugitive  had  released  herself,  and  the  final 
flight  must  have  been  taken  throught  a  small  postern 


ACT  IV  101 

in  an  inner  wall.  She  could  hence  easily  reach  the 
street,  and  this  house  was  wholly  deserted  on  that 
night,  it  being  the  occasion  of  a  banquet  to  the 
Baron.  It  is  a  riddle  to  which  no  answer  is  forth 
coming. 

Minister 

Have  the  necessary  precautions  been  taken  to 
secure  the  prisoner  in  case  of  her  discovery? 

Von  Werner 

(With  increasing  vigor  and  many  gestures.)  All 
that  is  possible  has  been  done,  but  she  is  lost  to  view 
as  if  she  had   never  been.     This  beginning  of  my 
incumbency  is  a  terribly  disastrous  one. 
Minister 

One  cannot  discover  any  failure  on  your  part. 
There  is  no  reason  for  the  overestimating  of  this 
shadow  so  far  as  you  are  concerned.  A  properly 
exonerating  statement  can  be  made  public  officially. 

Von   Werner 

Thanks,  thanks.  (Shakes  hands  with  the  min 
ister.  Gazes  about  triumphantly.) 

Minister 

(To  Von  Sendlingen.)  You  seem  to  be  in  a 
very  disturbed  condition  of  health? 

Von  Sendlingen 

I  do  not  believe  that  it  will  much  longer  be  a 
question  of  health  with  me. 

Minister 

A  short  rest  and  a  sojourn  in  a  warmer  climate 
will  bring  you  around.  We  have  too  much  need 
of  you  to  be  willing  to  think  otherwise. 


i02  THE  JUDGE 

Von  Sendlingen 

You  may,  perhaps,  change  your  views  when  you 
hear  what  I  shall  take  this  opportunity  of  saying 
to  you. 

Minister 

Leave  it  to  some  better  time,  you  are  now  too 
much  agitated. 

Von  Sendlingen 
It  must  come  now,  or  not  at  all. 

Minister 
Proceed,  then. 

Berger 

This  is  the  atonement,  the  expiation.  I  under 
stand  it  all. 

Von  Sendlingen 

I  shall  come  to  the  heart  of  my  communication 
at  once.  I  do  not  wish  that  this  upright  and  honor 
able  man  (to  Von  Werner  ivho  nods  and  bows  and 
smiles  vacantly)  should  know  another  moment  of 
anxiety.  It  is  of  Victorine  Lippert  and  her  mys 
terious  disappearance  that  I  wish  to  speak. 

Von   Werner 

(With  excitement,  stands  and  crosses  his  hands 
on  his  breast.}  I  always  felt  that  you  would  do 
for  me  all  that  lay  in  your  power. 

Minister 

Proceed.  There  may  be  other  things  of  equal  con 
sequence  with  your  vindication.  Von  Werner. 
(Von  Werner  subsides  rapidly.) 

Von  Sendlingen 

In  the  first  place  I  must  state  that  the  unhappy 
girl  was  my  own  daughter,  and  that  her  release 
from  prison  was  effected  by  me.  I  sent  her  away 
in  the  care  of  my  housekeeper,  Brigitta. 


ACT  IV  103 

All 

Your  daughter,  you  set  her  free,  you  obtained  her 
release — the  jailer!  the  jailer! 

Von  Sendlingen 

No,  no,  the  jailer  is  as  innocent  as  any  one  of 
you.  I  was  the  only  one  who  effected  this  crime. 
I  am  at  your  disposal.  I  await  the  consequences  of 
my  confession. 

Minister 
You  are  not  well,  you  are  mad! 

Von  Sendlingen 

No  I  am  clearer  in  my  intelligence  than  ever  I 
was.  I  see  with  the  unclouded  sense  of  a  dying  man. 
I  am  a  criminal  and  I  deliver  myself  up  to  justice. 

Berger 

Victor  I  am  here  at  your  side.  You  bewilder  me, 
but  I  shall  always  be  near  you  in  your  time  of  trial. 

Von  Sendlingen 
Best  of  friends! 

Minister 
That  girl  your  daughter! 

Von  Sendlingen 

My  daughter.  The  story  is  a  long  one,  and 
cannot  now  be  told.  It  may  be  hereafter. 

Minister 

But  why  resort  to  these  desperate  means?  Were 
no  others  at  hand? 

Von  Sendlingen 

None.  She  was  condemned  to  die.  It  was  a 
judicial  murder.  She  was  innocent  of  the  crime 
charged  to  her. 

Von   Werner 
The  judges  were  nearly  unanimous.     The  higher 


104  THE  JUDGE 

court  affirmed  the  decision.     The  evidence  against 
her  was  conclusive. 

Minister 

You  did  not  preside  at  the  trial  ? 
Von  Sendlingen 

It  was  a  conflict  between  my  sense  of  right  and 
love  of  my  child,  intensified  by  knowledge  of 
her  great  misfortune.  I  suppressed  my  love  for 
her  with  what  strength  lay  in  me,  and  allowed  my 
feeling  of  obligation  to  the  law  to  gain  the  victory. 
She  was  condemned  on  evidence  that  I  shall  be  able 
to  show  was  inconclusive.  The  chief  testimony  in 
her  favor  was  thrown  out  on  purely  technical 
grounds.  She  is  innocent.  The  thought  came  to 
me:  Against  this  wrong  only  another  wrong  can 
bring  to  pass  the  right. 

Minister 

A  fearful  dilemma. 

Von  Sendlingen 

Even  so.  Yet  I  came  to  this  conclusion  only  as 
the  last  resort  of  desperation.  She  was  condemned. 
I  could  free  her  only  by  committing  a  crime.  I  re 
volted  therefrom.  My  whole  life  was  arraigned 
against  me.  Then  came  to  me  the  awful  conflict. 
Should  she  die  or  I  ?  Should  she  pass  out  of  the 
world  a  criminal  or  I?  The  verdict  was  not  alone 
pronounced  upon  her,  it  was  pronounced  upon  me. 
Had  I  the  strength  to  take  this  criminality  upon  my 
self?  I  shuddered  upon  this  verge  for  a  long  time, 
but  I  felt  that,  when  the  limitations  put  upon  a  man 
by  destiny  were  too  great  for  him  to  bear,  he  had  the 
right  to  free  himself  by  any  way  whatsoever.  I  ex 
ercised  this  right,  gave  life  to  her,  and  surrender 
myself  to  the  law. 


ACT  IV  105 

Minister 

Why  were  these  facts  not  brought  to  me  befort 
in  time  to  prevent  all  this? 

Von  Sendlingen 

My  affiliations  with  the  working  people  had,  as 
you  will  remember,  put  me  out  of  favor  with  your 
self. 

Minister 
But  the  emperor — a  personal  appeal  to  him? 

Von  Sendlingen 

The  attack  upon  his  life  and  his  long  illness  frus 
trated  that,  just  as  I  had  reached  Vienna  for  that 
very  end. 

Minister 
What  a  tragedy! 

Von  Sendlingen 
I  am  in  your  hands. 

Minister 

The  case  demands  the  deepest  consideration.  The 
struggle  between  the  love  of  a  father  for  his  child, 
and  that  reverence  for  the  law  which  seems  to  be 
the  inmost  principle  of  your  nature,  must  have  been 
a  most  severe  one. 

Von   Werner 

I  must  beg  that  I  shall  be  wholly  left  out  of  the 
necessity  of  any  dealing  with  the  case.  I  am  utterly 
broken  down  with  the  mere  recital,  and  old  friend 
ship  would  make  me  powerless  to  manage  it.  (Stares 
around  and  mutters  incoherently.) 

Berger 
I  shall  take  the  Baron's  defense  in  hand  at  once. 

Von  Sendlingen 

I  do  not  desire  any  defense,  I  absolutely  refuse 
all  defense.  My  act  in  the  eyes  of  the  law  is  wholly 


io6  THE  JUDGE 

indefensible,  whatever  it  may  be  before  that  higher 
law  which  so  imperfectly  and  inadequately  expresses 
itself  in  any  human  institutions.  I  can  only  be 
punished,  and  for  punishment  I  place  myself  at  the 
disposal  of  the  authorities.  Between  my  child's 
judicial  murder,  and  my  own  disgrace,  I  choose  the 
latter. 

Minister 

No  so  simple  a  settlement  is  possible.  Innumer 
able  considerations  have  been  left  out  of  your  view. 
In  the  passion  of  the  moment,  and  in  the  heat  of 
your  action,  you  could  see  but  a  little  way  before 
you.  For  the  present  you  must  remain  here  in 
your  own  rooms,  but  under  the  supervision  of  the 
new  judge.  Your  word  of  honor  not  to  transgress 
this  regulation  is  needful. 

Von  Sendlingen 

I  give  it. 

Von   Werner 

(With  staring  eyes  and  real  horror.}     I  beg  you, 
I  entreat  you,  leave  me  out  of  this  strange  affair. 
Minister 

How  can  you  expect  to  be  left  out?  Was  not 
the  girl  convicted  by  you? 

Von   Werner 

(His  artificial  manner  collapses  gradually  and 
visibly.  The  veneer  rubs  off.  He  is  terribly  ex 
cited,  and  his  voice  breaks  into  strange  cadences. 
Many  gestures.)  My  brain  is  in  a  whirl.  I  have 
always  clung  to  the  closest  interpretation  of  the 
law,  and,  if  I  have  been  wrong  in  this  most  im 
portant  case  of  my  life,  I  feel  that  it  will  take  me 
some  time  to  fathom  the  thoughts  that  are  storming 
within  me. 


ACT  IV  107 

Minister 

I  shall  at  once  make  a  complete  re-investigation. 
I  shall  go  over  the  evidence  and  the  whole  pro 
cedure,  and  should  my  conclusions  coincide  with 
yours,  Von  Sendlingen,  an  interview  with  the  Em 
peror  will  soon  lead  you  out  of  this  labyrinth.  The 
further  pursuit  of  the  young  woman  will  cease  for 
the  present,  let  this  be  managed  judiciously,  inas 
much  as  she  can  doubtless  be  produced  if  we  shall 
have  any  need  of  her.  I  shall  wish  to  confer  with 
you,  Berger. 

Berger 
As  you  please. 

Von  Sendlingen 

I  am  entirely  at  a  loss.  I  do  not  apprehend.  I 
can  allow  no  infringement  of  the  law. 

Minister 

All  shall  be  duly  arranged  with  every  regard  to 
the  proper  interpretation  of  all  legal  provisions. 

Von  Sendlingen 

I  am  not  then  permitted  to  make  that  recompense 
which  my  crime  demands?  I  am  peradventure  to  be 
granted  an  immunity  which  a  lesser  criminal  would 
not  have  received  ?  Which  was  indeed  denied  to  my 
daughter? 

Von   Werner 

{Wringing  his  hands.)  It  is  I  who  am  now  on 
the  rack. 

Minister 
What  would  you  have? 

Von  Sendlingen 

The  public  disgrace  and  condemnation  which  I 
deserve. 


io8  THE  JUDGE 

Minister 

That  must  be  left  with  me. 

Von  Sendlingen 

You  can  only  decide  as  I  have  decided. 
Minister 

No,  I  must  decide  very  differently.  In  the  pres 
ent  disturbed  state  of  the  public  mind,  the  disclosure 
of  these  affairs  would  be  simply  ruinous.  The  very 
government  itself  is  in  danger.  The  wildness  of 
revolution  might  be  upon  us.  You  have  not  chosen 
an  ill  time  for  your  demonstration  of  the  existence 
of  a  law  beyond  the  law. 

Von  Sendlingen 

You  go  too  far.  I  demand  the  unsaying  of  that 
last. 

Minister 

As  you  wish;  but  the  successful  composition  of 
your  difficulties  shall  be  my  affair.  I  am  not  a 
father  distracted  with  grief  over  a  host  of  disasters 
and  strange  eventualities.  I  am  free  from  passion 
and  desperation.  I  am  not  fettered  by  a  slavish 
reading  of  the  law.  I  shall  know  how  to  be  truly, 
really  just.  Moreover,  the  welfare  of  the  common 
wealth  is  paramount,  patriotic  attachment  to  the 
land  higher  than  all ;  the  impeachment  of  one  among 
our  foremost  judges  would  be  to  play  with  an  out 
burst  of  destructive  forces;  so  soon  upon  his  eleva 
tion  to  a  higher  position,  so  upon  the  heels  of  the 
attempt  against  the  life  of  the  sovereign ;  to  the  state 
we  must  sacrifice  all,  our  wealth,  our  souls,  our 
lives,  our  deepest  rectitude,  our  very  belief  in  justice. 
Von  Sendlingen 

I  shall  refuse  all  such  tampering  with  the  fate 


ACT  IV  109 

which  I  call  my  own.  I  shall  make  the  expiation 
which  is  right  and  due.  I  cannot  live  without  mak 
ing  it.  My  life  would  be  a  hell  of  the  most  savage 
remorse  unless  I  am  given  this  privilege. 

Minister 

Let  some  time  intervene  before  you  fully  make 
up  your  mind. 

Von  Sendlingen 

No,  I  am  aware  of  what  that  means.  I  am  put 
to  the  last  and  bitterest  trial.  Even  the  right  to 
atone  is  taken  away  from  me.  The  law  appears 
most  lawless  at  its  very  source  and  fountain.  Thus 
is  it  that  the  whole  life  of  the  time  is  directed 
toward  death  and  ruin.  Thus  is  it  that  my  child 
is  involved  in  miseries  unspeakable,  they  are  not 
hers,  they  come  from  the  diseased  commonwealth. 
I  too  am  drawn  into  the  whirlpool.  Some  day  let 
us  hope  that  misfortunes  like  my  child's  will  be 
impossible,  and  disasters  like  mine  cannot  occur.  I 
shall  therefore  be  my  own  judge  and  executioner. 
(He  takes  a  phial  from  his  pocket  and  attempts  to 
place  it  to  his  lips.} 

Berger 

What  madness  is  this,  Victor? 

Von   Werner 

God  have  mercy  upon  me! 
Minister 

Seize  his  arm  there.  (The  struggle  is  brief, 
the  bottle  drops  to  the  floor.  Von  Sendlingen 
falls  back  in  his  chair,  white  and  overcome.  He 
looks  like  a  dying  man.  A  knock.  Franz  enters.) 

Franz 
The  Countess  Riesner  desires  to  see  the  Minister. 


no  THE  JUDGE 

Minister 
I  can  see  no  one. 

Von  Sendlingen 

(Arousing.)  Let  her  come.  Is  Marianna 
Brandes  with  her? 

Franz 

She  is.  (Steps,  to  Von  Sendlingen.)  Can  I  do 
anything  for  you?  You  are  fearfully  ill. 

Von  Sendlingen 

No,  not  now.  I  beg  of  you,  let  the  ladies 
come  in.  I  am  strong  again.  It  is  important,  I 
assure  you. 

Minister 
Admit  them  then. 

Franz 

It  will  not  last  long.  I  will  remain  near.  He  is 
dying.  I  see  it  clearly.  Something  has  been  killing 
him.  If  they  would  only  go  and  leave  him  to  me. 
(Exit.  After  an  interval  enter  the  Countess  and 
Marianna.  The  ladies  seat  themselves.) 

Minister 

To  what  are  we  indebted  for  the  honor  of  this 
visit,  madame? 

Countess 

I  come  especially  to  see  you.  I  heard  a  few  days 
ago  that  you  were  expected. 

Minister 
I  hope  that  I  may  be  of  service. 

Countess 

My  son.  Count  Henry,  who  has  for  some  time 
been  giving  me  the  greatest  cause  for  sorrow,  has 
disappeared.  For  two  weeks  no  trace  of  him  is  to 
be  discovered. 


ACT  IV  in 

Minister 

I  do  not  altogether  see  how  I  can  be  of  any  use 
to  you  in  those  premises. 

Countess 

The  woman,  Victorine  Lippert,  convicted  of  a 
heinous  crime,  has  through  some  unlooked-for  fa 
voritism,  succeeded  in  escaping  from  her  prison.  I 
have  at  last,  after  a  long  struggle,  succumbed  to 
the  conviction  that  he  has  somewhere  met  her  and 
accompanied  her  flight. 

Minister 
I  remember  now,  he  was  the  man  involved. 

Von  Sendllngen 

From  information  received  by  me  and  equally 
trustworthy  with  that  of  the  Countess  I  tan  say  that 
the  Count  is  now  the  husband  of  Victorine  Lippert. 

Countess 

I  feared  as  much.  Unheard  of  misfortune !  For 
getting  his  rank,  his  rights,  he  has  allied  himself 
to  that  false  and  designing  murderess. 

Marianna  Brandes 

Do  not  forget,  madame,  that  to  the  best,  trials 
must  come.  Lean  on  a  strength  superior  to  your 
own. 

Von   Werner 

I  am  to  blame  for  much  of  this.  I  begin  to  see 
what  a  terrible  error  I  am  in.  I  must  undertake 
the  work  of  my  life  all  over  again.  (Breaks  into 
hoarse  noises  like  sobs.) 

Berger 

Summa  lex,  summa  injuria.  The  extremity  of 
the  law  is  the  extremity  of  injury.  The  freer  and 
larger  interpretation  is  forever  the  safer. 


H2  THE  JUDGE 

Countess 

But  he  must  be  found,  he  must  be  brought  back, 
he  must  not  be  made  to  pay  with  his  whole  life  foi 
a  youthful  folly,  an  unimportant  event  in  the  career 
of  a  man  of  the  world.  He  cannot  remain  per 
manently  attached  to  that  vulgar  girl.  I  implore 
the  aid  of  every  one  of  you.  Let  her  be  brought  to 
justice,  and  my  son,  after  a  period  of  travel,  can 
resume  the  place  which  is  his  of  right. 
Marianna  Brandes 

The  saints  and  heavenly  powers  will  grant  it. 
Von  Sendlingen 

That  may  not  be  so  easy  as  you  suppose.  The 
chief  witness,  however,  against  Victorine  is  here 
again.  A  brief  interrogation  is  possible  and  really 
necessary  under  the  eye  of  the  Minister.  Can  it  not 
be  undertaken? 

Countess 

I  protest  most  earnestly.  To  what  end?  And 
for  what  purpose  ?  The  whole  action  is  now  closed. 
Poor  child!  Marianna  has  had  enough  of  it,  and 
so  free  from  blame  and  mixture  with  the  affair  as 
she  is. 

Marianna  Brandes 

I  am  at  the  disposal  of  a  strength  that  is  greater 
than  my  own.  I  am  made  to  be  the  instrument  of 
powers  larger  than  myself.  I  am  content.  Meekly 
and  humbly  will  I  take  up  my  burden  and  bear  it. 
I  am  thus  disciplined  and  built  into  the  life  that  I 
most  wish  to  be. 

Minister 

The  suggestion  is  a  noteworthy  one,  and  I  se«t 
no  reason  for  failing  to  take  it.  You  will  tell  the 


ACT  IV  113 

truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth. 
Berger  will  be  as  generous  in  his  questions  as  he 
can  be. 

Countess 

I  do  not  think  this  should  go  any  further.  1 
protest  against  it  again.  Marianna,  you  need  not 
speak. 

Minister 
She  will  speak.     Berger,  proceed. 

Berger 

Did  you  overhear  a  conversation  between  the 
Count  and  Victorine  Lippert? 

Marianna  Brandes 

Good  saints  in  heaven,  do  you  mean  to  call  me 
an  eavesdropper? 

Berger 
Answer  the  question. 

Marianna  Brandes 

I  was  behind  a  curtain,  it  was  purely  by  an  ac 
cident,  they  came  into  the  room  after  I  did. 

Berger 
Answer  the  question. 

Marianna  Brandes 

I  was  behind  a  curtain,  it  was  purely  by  an  ac 
cident,  they  came  into  the  room  after  I  did. 

Berger 

Could  you  hear  what  they  said? 
Marianna  Brandes 

They  spoke  indistinctly;  I  heard, — I  heard  some 
thing. 

Berger 
Did  you  hear  anything  about  a  marriage  ? 


ii4  THE  JUDGE 

Marianna  Brandes 

The  Count  did  say  that  he  would  marry — how 
can  I  remember? — it  was  very  dark, — but  it  was 
about  a  marriage  with  Victorine. 

Countess 

It  is  not  so,  and  even  if  it  were,  it  is  immaterial. 
My  son  could  make  no  promises  that  were  binding 
to  such  a  girl. 

Berger 
Did  you  hear  anything  more? 

Marianna  Brandes 

I  moved  just  then.  Oh,  look  down  upon  me, 
protecting  spirits! — the  Count  came  towards  me, 
and  I  left  the  room — 

Berger 
Hastily? 

Marianna  Brandes 
Yes,  hastily,  quite  so. 

Berger 

What  sort  of  a  night  was  it  when  Victorine  left 
the  house? 

Marianna  Brandes 
Very  stormy.     I  preferred  to  be  indoors. 

Berger 

Did  she  go  willingly? 

Marianna  Brandes 

I  should  have  preferred  remaining  in  the  house; 
she  was  forced  to  go. 

Berger 
You  saw  her  the  following  morning. 

Marianna  Brandes 
Yes,  the  village  woman  was  there  first. 


ACT  IV  115 

Berger 
Did  you  see  any  marks  of  violence  on  the  child? 

Marianna  Brandes 

I  did  not  dare  to  take  it  up.  I — I — am  not  cer 
tain.  The  village  woman  held  it. 

Countess 

I  will  listen  no  further.  This  is  an  outrage  upon 
me  and  mine.  I  will  appeal  to  higher  authority. 

Minister 

Do  not  hasten  away  yet.  We  are  not  entirely 
through. 

Berger 

Where  is  the  village  woman  now?  She  could  not 
be  found  at  the  time  of  the  trial. 

Marianna  Brandes 
In  America. 

Berger 
How  did  she  obtain  the  means  for  the  journey? 

Marianna  Brandes 
That  I  do  not  know. 

Berger 
I  believe  that  I  am  through. 

Von  Sendlingen 

( To  Berger. )  You  were  never  more  a  friend  to 
me  than  now. 

Von   Werner 

(In  dull  and  husky  tones.}  Why  did  I  not  see 
through  all  this  before? 

Countess 

All  this  signifies  nothing  to  my  son  or  to  me. 
This  woman  is  condemned  and  has  been  allowed  to 
escape.  She  must  be  brought  back  and  my  son 
freed  from  her. 


ii6  THE  JUDGE 

Minister 

So  be  it  then.  I  will  take  the  needed  measures, 
but  first  you  must  bear  in  mind  one  thing. 

Countess 
What  may  that  be? 

Minister 

I  do  not  doubt  that  the  abiding  place  of  Victorine 
Lippert,  or  I  mistake,  Victorine  Riesner,  can  be 
readily  found.  There  is  no  government  but  will 
extradite  under  the  circumstances;  with  her,  how 
ever,  will  return  your  son — to  be  arraigned  on  the 
double  charge  of  deceiving  her,  and  then  assisting 
her,  a  condemned  criminal,  to  escape.  Do  you  wish 
me  to  speak  to  the  servant? 

Countess 

(After  a  pause.}  I  must  ask  you  to  excuse  me, 
I  am  a  broken  hearted  woman  and  mother,  re 
member  to  act  for  me  and  for  him. 

Minister 

We  shall  forget  neither,  madame. 

Countess 
Come  with  me,  Marianna. 

Marianna 

I  beg  you  will  forgive  me.  I  shall  go  to  my 
brother's.  I  do  not  believe  that  my  further  stay 
in  your  house  would  be  desirable.  I  shall  send  for 
my  few  things,  and  ask  for  my  dismissal.  The 
angels  of  the  highest  heaven  keep  you  in  charge, 
dear  Countess. 

Countess 

This  last  pin-prick  adds  very  little  to  my  pain. 
Good  morning,  gentlemen.  (She  leaves  with  calm 
dignity.) 


ACT  IV  117 

Marianna  Brandes 
You  do  not  wish  anything  more  from  me? 

Minister 

No,  you  may  go  to  your  brother's.  It  is,  however, 
only  by  a  sad  combination  of  circumstances  that 
you  are  not  dealt  with  very  differently. 

Marianna  Brandes 

The  guardianship  that  has  always  had  me  in  its 
especial  care  has  not  deserted  me  now.  (She  passes 
out  rapidly.) 

Von   Werner 

I  am  chagrined,  dismayed,  overwhelmed.  I  pre 
sent  my  resignation.  (Breaks  down  completely.) 

Minister 

No,  you  are  the  better  judge  for  all  you  have 
heard  and  felt  today,  you  will  remain.  Von  Send- 
lingen — 

Von  Sendlingen 

They  have  taken  from  me  everything.  They  will 
find  those  wretched  ones,  and  bring  them  back.  I 
shall  have  failed  totally,  utterly. 

Minister 

No,  you  cannot  think  us  so  inhumanly  cruel. 
Bestir  yourself,  take  heart,  all  shall  be  well. 

Von  Sendlingen 

But  I  shall  be  allowed  to  take  my  guilt  upon  my 
self  finally? 

Minister 
That  remains  for  further  consideration. 

Von  Sendlingen 

No,  it  must  be,  it  shall  be,  I  demand  it  as 
my  right,  I  will  have  it  so,  I  will  proclaim  it 
everywhere. 


ii8  THE  JUDGE 

Minister 
You  wish  me  to  proceed  to  extremities? 

Von  Sendlingen 

Do  your  worst.  I — I — .  (He  screams  and  falls 
back  in  his  chair.)  Franz — George — (Franz  rushes 
in.) 

Berger 

Franz,  I  am  afraid  that  there  is  nothing  more 
that  we  can  do.  He  is  dying. 

Franz 

(Falls  at  Van  Sendlingen  s  knee.)  I  have  been 
looking  for  it  all  the  time.  What  have  they  done 
to  you?  What  can  I  do? 

Von  Sendlingen 

Nothing  at  all.  It  is  indeed  the  end,  I  did  not 
think  it  would  be  so  soon.  After  all,  no  man  can 
do  more.  I  die  for  them  and  the  right,  but  the 
terrible  cloud  is  lifted,  the  bondage  in  which  three 
generations  have  been  held  is  broken,  they  are  free 
again. 

Minister 
Yes,  they  are  free  again. 

Von  Sendlingen 

I  can  die  content,  then.  I  am  not  wholly  dis 
honored,  I  thought  it  would  be  otherwise,  but  no 
doubt  this  is  best.  You  will  look  after  everything, 
George.  All  is  prepared  for  them,  and  for  you, 
Franz.  So  it  is  over — good  night — goodby.  (He 
dies.) 

Franz 
My  master! 

Von  Werner 

I  shall  begin  my  life  anew,  illumined  by  the  light 
of  this  sacrifice. 


ACT  IV  119 

Eerger 

Good  friend,  good  Judge,  farewell.  This  was  a 
man,  and  heaven  is  more  heaven  because  he  enters 
it. 

Minister 

Truth  is  not  less  truth,  and  justice  is  not  less 
justice,  because  mercy  and  love  shine  through  them 
with  a  radiance  that  is  divine. 

The  Curtain  Falls 

THE  END 


AMERICAN   DRAMATISTS   SERIES 


A  series  of  plays  by  contemporary  American  dramatists; 
uniformly  bound  In  antique  boards,  each,  $1.00  net. 

THE    FLOWER    SHOP.  By    Marion    Craig- Wentworth 

Play   in   three  acts,  dealing   with   woman's   suffrage. 

THE   MAN   YOU   LOVE.  By    Robert   A.   Rasper 

A  drama  of  to-day  in  four  acts. 

PUPPETS    OF   FATE.  By   Alice   Elizabeth   Lavelle 

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Five  one-act  plays :  Thirst,  The  Webb,  Warnings,  Fog, 
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THE  GIRL  IN  THE  PICTURE.         By  Alexander  W.  Shaw 

A  farce  in  two  acts. 

SOME   PEOPLE   MARRY.  By    Robert   A.   Kaeper 

A  drama  of  to-day  in  three  acts. 

A    MAN'S    WORLD.  By    Rachel    Crothers 

Miss  Crothers'  famous  play  of  to-day,  in  three  acts. 

A  LIGHT  FROM  ANOTHER  WORLD.    By  C.  H.  McGurrln 

A  dramatic  sketch  of  to-day,  in  one  act. 

THE   LITTLE    MOTHER  OF   THE    SLUMS. 

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A  play  in  f 
Von  Franzos. 


A  play  in  four  acts,  founded  on  the  novel  of  Karl  Bmil 
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EVERYCHILD.  By   Beatrix   Reynolds 

A  fanciful  story  in  dramatic  form,  which  will  help  chil 
dren  to  understand  music. 


RICHARD   G.    BADGER,    PUBLISHER,   BOSTON 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
BERKELEY 


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